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.
—
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.
—
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
—
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
—
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
—
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.
—
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.
have
Verb
—
Someone has something if the thing is in their hands. The person is holding or gripping it.
Do you have a spoon, or do you need me to give you one so you can eat the soup?
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If you have uto/u do something, you must do it.
I have to go.
I had to do it.
—
Someone has something if the thing is that person's thing: the person owns it; it belongs to the person.
The rich family has a big house.
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If you have you hold something in the mind.
I have a doubt about him.
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If you have you join something.
We have lunch at 13:00.
—
You use have to say that you suffer from something or to tell the experience.
I have a defective vision. (I don't see well.)
He had a wonderful time with his friends.
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".
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In some schools, an A is a very high grade.
Ron got an A on his earth science test.
drinking
—
noun
the act of consuming liquids
—
noun
(= drink)
the act of drinking alcoholic beverages to excess
drink was his downfall
straw
Noun
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Straw is dried grasses, such as wheat, without the seeds. Animals sleep on it, and people make hats and mats out of it.
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A pale, yellowish-beige colour, like that of a dried straw.
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A straw is a thin hollow tube that you drink through.