Wordcyclopedia | English | Can I ask you for a favour?

can Verb

— If someone can do something, they are able to do it. Most birds can fly. Can you speak English? I can't see it. It's too small. "Can you come?" "Yes, I think I can." This is a service that anyone can easily afford. — If someone can do something, they are allowed to do it. You can't smoke here. Can I go now? — You use can to ask somebody to do something (if you know the person well). Can you open the door for me, please? Can I have the salt, please? — If something can happen, it is possible. It's so small that it can't be seen. There can't be any difference. Can the plan work? That can't be right. Imagine how bad it can get. — If someone tells you something can't happen, they think it's not a good idea. You just can't keep smoking. You can't think things are going to get better. — If something can happen, it happens sometimes. I can get really busy here on weekends. Her classes can be really interesting or really boring.

can Verb

— If someone cans something, they put in a can or jar to keep for a long time. We canned the peas for the winter. — If someone cans something, they stop working on it. The idea was canned. — If someone gets canned they have lost their job. — If you tell someone to can it, you want them to stop talking. Can it, would you? I'm trying to watch TV.

can Noun

— A can is a metal container, usually for holding food or drink. I drink cola from a can. hoops come in a can.

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I Pronoun

— The person who is speaking or writing I am writing this, and you are reading it.

I Noun

— The ninth letter or the alphabet; previous H, next J. I is a vowel.

I Symbol

— A symbol meaning first, as in "George I" (which is said as "George the first"). — The symbol for iodine on the periodic table of elements. — The symbol for electrical current.

I Number

— This is the roman numeral for one (1). It may be written as I or i.

i Noun

— The ninth letter or the alphabet; previous H, next J. I is a vowel.

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ask Verb

— To ask is to look for an answer to a question by saying it. She sure does ask a lot of questions! — To approach someone to see if they will do something. Let me ask my mom if I can go.

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you Pronoun

— Used instead of the name of the person being spoken to; it is a second-person pronoun. You are my best friend. Can I go to the shops with you? — Used to talk about anyone. You have to be 18 years old to see that film. She has problems with her eyes, and can't see you properly.

you Determinative

— Used before a word that means the person or people someone is talking to. You guys can leave now.

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for Preposition

— shows that something belongs to something else, or has a specific function This cake is for you. This is a net for catching fish. — For is used to show the reason for something He was angry, for he had never been called such terrible names before.

for Subordinator

— For introduces a clause with a subject and a to-infinitive It's not good for you to be too relaxed.

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a Determinative

— A is used when the following word could be any of a certain type. Compare "A book I saw on the shelf" and "The book I gave you yesterday".

a Noun

— A is the first letter of the alphabet. The letter "a" comes before "b". — In some schools, an A is a very high grade. Ron got an A on his earth science test.

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favour Noun

— Some help. Can you please do me a favour by washing the dishes? May I ask you a favour?

favour Verb

— When you favour someone, you like them and prefer them over other people.

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