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.
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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.
use
Verb
—
Make use of; apply.
I use oil to cook.
This hammer is used to hit the nails.
—
To treat as unimportant, abuse; used about people.
She only uses him to do the house chores.
use
Noun
—
A way to apply something; an application.
They put it to good use.
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A time when something is applied.
This battery will last for 2000 uses.
the
Determiner
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Used, instead of a, to reference something specific, already known to exist.
Compare "I read a book." and "I read the book."
—
Used with a stress, to show that the word following is special.
Are you the John Smith that I went to school with?
—
Used with an adjective that acts like a noun to mean all of the people concerned
The poor are always with us.
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Used with superlatives forms of adjectives and adverbs.
You are the best.
toilet
Noun
—
A toilet is something you may put human waste (feces and urine) into.
Excuse me, I need to use the toilet.
—
A toilet is a bathroom.
Where is the toilet?
now
Preposition
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You use now when you want to say that something is true at this time. It is also used for things a short time in the future or a short time in the past.
I had many problems before, but I'm OK now.
What did you say just now?
The English teacher is at the library now.
—
You use now at the beginning of a sentence to get people's attention.
Now, I'd like to hear from other people too.