I. MODAL USES
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
Note: 'Can' is a modal verb. It is used with the base form of a verb. The form '~not' is used in negative statements. The usual spoken form of '~not' is '~’t', pronounced
1.
You use ~ when you are mentioning a quality or fact about something which people may make use of if they want to.
Pork is also the most versatile of meats. It ~ be roasted whole or in pieces...
A central reservation number operated by the resort ~ direct you to accommodations that best suit your needs...
A selected list of some of those stocking a comprehensive range ~ be found in Chapter 8.
MODAL
2.
You use ~ to indicate that someone has the ability or opportunity to do something.
Don’t worry yourself about me, I ~ take care of myself...
I ~’t give you details because I don’t actually have any details...
See if you ~ find Karlov and tell him we are ready for dinner...
‘You’re needed here, Livy’—‘But what ~ I do?’...
Customers ~ choose from sixty hit titles before buying...
MODAL
3.
You use ~not to indicate that someone is not able to do something because circumstances make it impossible for them to do it.
We ~not buy food, clothes and pay for rent and utilities on $20 a week...
She ~not sleep and the pain is often so bad she wants to scream.
MODAL
4.
You use ~ to indicate that something is true sometimes or is true in some circumstances.
...long-term therapy that ~ last five years or more...
Exercising alone ~ be boring...
Coral ~ be yellow, blue, or green.
MODAL
5.
You use ~not and ~’t to state that you are certain that something is not the case or will not happen.
From her knowledge of Douglas’s habits, she feels sure that the attacker ~’t have been Douglas...
Things ~’t be that bad...
You ~’t be serious, Mrs Lorimer?
MODAL
6.
You use ~ to indicate that someone is allowed to do something. You use ~not or ~’t to indicate that someone is not allowed to do something.
You must buy the credit life insurance before you ~ buy the disability insurance...
Here, ~ I really have your jeans when you grow out of them?...
We ~’t answer any questions, I’m afraid...
MODAL
7.
You use ~not or ~’t when you think it is very important that something should not happen or that someone should not do something.
It is an intolerable situation and it ~’t be allowed to go on...
The Commission ~’t demand from Sweden more than it demands from its own members.
= mustn’t
MODAL emphasis
8.
You use ~, usually in questions, in order to make suggestions or to offer to do something.
This old lady was struggling out of the train and I said, ‘Oh, ~ I help you?’...
Hello John. What ~ we do for you?...
You ~ always try the beer you know–it’s usually all right in this bar.
MODAL
9.
You use ~ in questions in order to make polite requests. You use ~’t in questions in order to request strongly that someone does something.
Can I have a look at that?...
Can you please help?...
Can you fill in some of the details of your career?...
Why ~’t you leave me alone?
MODAL politeness
10.
You use ~ as a polite way of interrupting someone or of introducing what you are going to say next. (FORMAL, SPOKEN)
Can I interrupt you just for a minute?...
But if I ~ interrupt, Joe, I don’t think anybody here is personally blaming you...
= may
MODAL
11.
You use ~ with verbs such as ‘imagine’, ‘think’, and ‘believe’ in order to emphasize how you feel about a particular situation. (INFORMAL or SPOKEN)
You ~ imagine he was terribly upset...
You ~’t think how glad I was to see them all go...
MODAL emphasis
12.
You use ~ in questions with ‘how’ to indicate that you feel strongly about something. (SPOKEN)
How ~ you complain about higher taxes?...
How ~ you say such a thing?...
How ~ you expect me to believe your promises?
MODAL emphasis
II. CONTAINER
(~s, ~ning, ~ned)
1.
A ~ is a metal container in which something such as food, drink, or paint is put. The container is usually sealed to keep the contents fresh.
...empty beer ~s.
...~s of paint and brushes.
= tin
N-COUNT
2.
When food or drink is ~ned, it is put into a metal container and sealed so that it will remain fresh.
...fruits and vegetables that will be ~ned, skinned, diced or otherwise processed...
It was always roast lamb and ~ned peas for Sunday lunch.
= tin
VERB: usu passive, be V-ed, V-ed
3.
The ~ is the toilet. (AM INFORMAL)
N-SING: the N
4.
If you are ~ned, you are dismissed from your job. (AM INFORMAL)
The extremists prevailed, and the security minister was ~ned...
VERB: be V-ed
5.
see also ~ned