Wordcyclopedia | English | Can I talk to you for a minute?

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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talk Noun

— A talk is a lecture or a speech. I liked the talk he gave to the students. — A talk is the words that a person says His talk is meaningless.

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to Verb phrase Subordinator

— To has no meaning. It is used to introduce verb phrases. It's important for you to understand. She told them to be quiet. You want me to do it, but I don't have to. To finish quickly, we must work fast. To continue like this would be foolish. I don't know how to get there. He got the keys to open the door. It's too small to see. You are all to be here at 7:30 tomorrow morning. Do you understand? He arrived only to find that everyone had gone home.

to Preposition

— To shows where something goes, the goal of movement. He went to her house. The train returned to the Shinjuku station. I went to bed but could not rest. They went to school together and played in the same soccer team. A squad car took him to hospital where he died. Many people came to me with suggestions. I wonder why you keep going to sea when you know it's dangerous. — To shows the receivers of an action or object. The goods were sold to customers at the downtown store. — To shows the result of a change or process. It switched from red to black. They came to the conclusion that I'm better than nothing. He fell on the play, but quickly got to his feet. He was crushed to death underneath the truck. — To shows the end or limit of something. Methods have been used to overcome these problems to some degree. The class is from 1:35 to 3:25. It's just another week to the end of classes. Right now it's ten minutes to four. — To shows that one thing is touching another. They stood back to back to see who was taller. — To shows how two things are connected. He attached the printer to the computer. She was married to a Canadian man. She was assistant to the general manager. — To shows a belonging or relationship. We don't owe anything to anyone. To whom does it belong? It's a benefit to the whole school. What's the answer to this problem? I can't remember the password to this account? — To shows a comparison between two things. Girls outnumber boys two to one. Older cars get fewer kilometers to a liter of gasoline. Right now you can get one Canadian dollar to $1.05 US. — To shows your feeling or opinion about something. It feels good to me. To their surprise, she got up and left. — To shows a timing relationship, often with a music. He likes to exercise to music.

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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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minute Noun

— A minute is a short time equal to sixty seconds. There are sixty minutes in one hour. He ran the race in 1 minute and ten seconds. — A minute is a short time. Please wait a minute while I get my coat and then I will come with you.

minute Adjective

— Minute things are small. The pictures appear similar, with only a few, minute differences.

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