Englishfor English speakers
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.
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If someone can do something, they are allowed to do it.
You can't smoke here.
Can I go now?
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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.
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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.
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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
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If someone cans something, they put in a can or jar to keep for a long time.
We canned the peas for the winter.
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If someone cans something, they stop working on it.
The idea was canned.
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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
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A can is a metal container, usually for holding food or drink.
I drink cola from a can.
hoops come in a can.
I
Pronoun
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The person who is speaking or writing
I am writing this, and you are reading it.
I
Noun
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The ninth letter or the alphabet; previous H, next J. I is a vowel.
I
Symbol
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A symbol meaning first, as in "George I" (which is said as "George the first").
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The symbol for iodine on the periodic table of elements.
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The symbol for electrical current.
I
Number
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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.
borrow
Verb
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If you borrow something from someone, you use it and then you give it back to them.
Governments need to make it easier for students to borrow money for school.
The company has also borrowed heavily from the Boston Federal Reserve Bank - some $1.6 billion last month alone.
Can I borrow your car and show my dad I can drive?
—
If you borrow words or ideas from somebody, you use them in your own writing or speaking.
Many people want to throw the war "down the memory hole", to borrow a phrase from Orwell's 1984.
The choreographer borrowed a number from Swan Lake for his satirical ballet called Birds in Ballet.
an
Determinative
—
An (or a) is used when the following word could be any of a certain type.
I just ate an apple.
It is indeed an honor to have met you today.
iron
Noun
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An element with the symbol Fe and the atomic number 26.
A way to melt iron at very high temperatures to make steel was developed in Sri Lanka in 300 BC.
About 20% of women have low levels of iron in their blood.
An object that has iron in it is attracted to magnets.
—
A metal from the element.
That door is made of iron.
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A tool which uses heat to remove wrinkles from cloth.
She used the iron on her skirt.
iron
Verb
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To remove wrinkles with an iron.
He irons his shirts.