Question
20 May
- Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong)
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English (UK)
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Japanese
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Korean
Question about English (US)
It is difficult to understand the words ‘can’ and can’t when I watch the TV series without subtitles because the pronunciation of these words are similar.
It is difficult to understand the words ‘can’ and can’t when I watch the TV series without subtitles because the pronunciation of these words are similar.
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- English (US)
I understand. This happens in every day life too and I have to clarify and ask “did you say can or can’t?” When watching TV sometimes you don’t know but can figure out by the plot. Using cannot instead of can’t is a great option.
- Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong)
Thanks.
Did you mean that native speaker also mixed up both of words during the daily conversation?
Did you mean that native speaker also mixed up both of words during the daily conversation?
- Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong)
@cabbiefromUS Using cannot sound like be more formal.🤔🤔
- English (US)
@NatRomanoffRachGreen
Yes. If people do not speak clearly, we don’t know for sure and need to ask.
I don’t necessarily agree that cannot is more formal, but perhaps it is considered so by some people.
A conversation may go like this: “Did you say can or can’t?”
“I said can’t— cannot.” They mean the same thing but cannot can clarify what was said.
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