Can Example Sentences

"Can" is a modal verb that expresses ability, permission, possibility, requests, offers, suggestions, and general truths, and its form never changes. These 299 can example sentences are written for physical skills, sensory perception, polite requests, workplace permission, travel plans, public signs, and scientific facts, so you study the word in each situation where it is used. You hear "can" in nearly every conversation alongside modal verbs such as "could," "may," and "must," so practice with these sentences improves your speaking and writing.

Quick Answer: Can Example Sentences

• Ability: She can swim faster than anyone on the team.
• Permission: You can borrow my laptop for the meeting.
• Possibility: Temperatures can drop below zero in January.
• Request: Can you pass me the salt?
• Offer: I can help you carry those bags.
• Suggestion: We can try the new restaurant on Park Street.
• General truth: Water can freeze at zero degrees Celsius.
• Prohibition: You can’t park on this side of the road.

Can Example Sentences for Everyday Use

These sentences use "can" for ability, permission, possibility, requests, offers, suggestions, general truths, negatives, questions, passive forms, and conditions.

1. She can sprint two hundred metres in under thirty seconds.
2. Our new colleague can design posters in three software programs.
3. I can hear the kettle boiling in the kitchen.
4. Can I plug my laptop in here?
5. You can take the red bicycle for the afternoon.
6. Heavy snow can close the mountain pass for days.
7. Our neighbour can be noisy on weekend nights.
8. Can you water the plants while I am away?
9. I can pick up your parcel from the depot.
10. We can take a short break before the next session.
11. Sea turtles can live for more than seventy years.
12. My little brother can’t tie his shoelaces yet.
13. That can’t be Marta’s coat. It’s far too big.
14. You can’t use the lift during a fire alarm.
15. Can your cousin pick us up from the airport?
16. When can we expect the test results?
17. "Can they stay another night?" "Yes, they can."
18. The tent can be folded into a bag the size of a football.
19. If the printer jams again, we can call the repair team.

Ability Sentences with Can

These sentences state what people and animals are able to do, from lifting weights and speaking languages to hearing neighbours through a wall.

Can Sentences for Physical Ability

Physical ability sentences describe strength, speed, and balance, such as lifting 60 kilograms, swimming across a pool, and holding a plank.

1. She can lift 60 kilograms above her head.
2. He can run five kilometres without stopping.
3. My daughter can swim across the pool on her own.
4. The goalkeeper can jump higher than anyone on the team.
5. I can touch my toes without bending my knees.
6. She can hold her breath underwater for two minutes.
7. My grandfather can still walk three miles every morning.
8. He can climb that rope in under ten seconds.
9. The horse can gallop at 60 kilometres per hour.
10. She can do fifty push-ups in a row.
11. My brother can carry two heavy suitcases at the same time.
12. He can throw a baseball over 140 kilometres per hour.
13. She can balance on one foot for over a minute.
14. My dog can jump over a fence twice its height.
15. She can hold a plank position for over three minutes.
16. He can swim a full lap of the pool underwater without coming up for air.

Can Sentences for Learned Skills

These sentences name skills gained through training, such as speaking four languages, playing the piano, and writing code.

1. She can speak four languages fluently.
2. My son can read chapter books on his own now.
3. He can play the piano and the guitar.
4. I can write code in Python and JavaScript.
5. She can cook a full three-course meal from scratch.
6. My neighbour can fix almost any car engine.
7. He can solve a Rubik’s cube in under a minute.
8. She can knit a scarf in one afternoon.
9. I can type 90 words per minute without looking at the keyboard.
10. He can drive both a manual and an automatic car.
11. My sister can translate legal documents from Spanish to English.
12. She can edit professional-quality videos on her laptop.
13. He can name every country in Africa from memory.
14. She can bake sourdough bread from her own starter.
15. I can change a flat tyre in under ten minutes.
16. He can identify most birds in the garden by their song alone.

Can Sentences for Hearing Seeing and Remembering

These sentences describe senses and memory, such as hearing the neighbours, seeing mountains from a window, and remembering phone numbers.

1. I can hear the neighbours talking through the wall.
2. She can see the mountains from her bedroom window.
3. He can smell fresh bread from two streets away.
4. I can feel the warmth of the sun on my face.
5. She can remember phone numbers after hearing them once.
6. He can tell two shades of blue apart.
7. I can sense when something is wrong before anyone speaks.
8. She can taste even a small amount of salt in food.
9. He can understand spoken French at a normal speed.
10. I can recognise a song from the first three notes.
11. She can detect the faintest hint of garlic in any dish.
12. He can recall names and faces from meetings held years ago.
13. I can hear rain falling on the roof.
14. She can feel the bass through the floor.

Permission Sentences with Can

These sentences ask for, grant, and refuse permission, such as borrowing a car, using a computer, and entering a lab.

Can Sentences for Asking Permission

These sentences ask whether an action is allowed, such as using a phone, taking photos in a museum, and paying by credit card.

1. Can I use your phone for a moment?
2. Can we sit at this table?
3. Can I leave work early today?
4. Can she bring a friend to the party?
5. Can I open the window? It’s warm in here.
6. Can we take photos inside the museum?
7. Can I borrow your car this weekend?
8. Can he join our study group?
9. Can I pay with a credit card?
10. Can we park in the garage?
11. Can I try on this jacket in a larger size?
12. Can she use the conference room at two o’clock?
13. Can I switch to a different class if this one is full?
14. Can I stay in the room until the class starts?

Can Sentences for Giving and Denying Permission

These sentences state what is allowed or forbidden, such as using a computer, leaving after the bell, and eating in the library.

1. You can use my computer while I’m out.
2. You can take a break whenever you need one.
3. Students can leave the classroom after the bell.
4. You can’t eat or drink in the library.
5. Visitors can enter the building after nine in the morning.
6. You can’t use your phone during the exam.
7. Employees can work from home on Fridays.
8. You can sit anywhere you like.
9. Children under twelve can’t watch this film without an adult.
10. You can keep the book for as long as you need it.
11. Members can access the pool between six in the morning and nine at night.
12. You can’t leave the exam hall until the full hour is over.
13. Guests can use the garden at any time.
14. You can’t enter the lab without a pass.

Possibility Sentences with Can

These sentences describe events that happen in general or from time to time, from price changes and floods to icy roads.

Can Sentences for General Possibility

These sentences name events such as a rainstorm flooding a valley, a power cut during a storm, and an error under pressure.

1. Prices can change without notice.
2. The weather can turn cold overnight in the mountains.
3. Anyone can make a mistake under pressure.
4. A single rainstorm can flood the whole valley.
5. A short circuit can start a fire in an old building.
6. A small crack in the wall can grow into a serious problem over time.
7. Traffic can get very heavy during rush hour.
8. Food allergies can develop at any age.
9. One careless email can damage a company’s reputation.
10. Noise from the construction site can reach the top floor.
11. A power cut can happen at any time during a storm.
12. The temperature can vary by ten degrees between morning and afternoon.
13. A delay at one airport can affect flights across the entire network.
14. Stress can lead to headaches, poor sleep, and difficulty concentrating.

Can Sentences for Occasional Possibility

These sentences name events that happen from time to time, such as snow in April, icy roads after sunset, and crowds on Friday evenings.

1. It can snow in April in parts of northern Europe.
2. She can be quite strict when deadlines are close.
3. The roads can get icy after sunset.
4. He can be very generous when he wants to be.
5. The restaurant can get crowded on Friday evenings.
6. Trains can run late during peak hours.
7. The sea can look completely different depending on the light.
8. He can be hard to reach during the working day.
9. The exam can take up to three hours.
10. Children can get restless on long car journeys.
11. The Wi-Fi signal can drop when too many people connect at once.
12. Flights can cost half the price if you book two months ahead.

Request Sentences with Can

These sentences ask another person for help, such as moving a table, sending a report, and giving a lift to the station.

1. Can you help me move this table?
2. Can you send me the report by Friday?
3. Can you turn down the music a little?
4. Can you hold the door for me?
5. Can you explain that one more time?
6. Can you give me a lift to the station?
7. Can you check if the meeting room is free?
8. Can you lend me your charger for ten minutes?
9. Can you tell me where the post office is?
10. Can you pick up some milk on your way home?
11. Can you print two copies of this document?
12. Can you call me back after lunch?
13. Can you show me how this machine works?
14. Can you remind me to call the dentist tomorrow?
15. Can you save me a seat near the front?
16. Can you double-check the numbers before the meeting?
17. Can you wait here for a few minutes?
18. Can you email me the final version tonight?
19. Can you cover the front desk for an hour?
20. Can you share the slides with the team after the call?

Offer and Suggestion Sentences with Can

These sentences state help the speaker gives and options the speaker proposes.

Can Sentences for Offering Help

These sentences state help the speaker will give, such as driving a friend to the airport, watering plants, and staying late to finish a report.

1. I can help you with your homework after dinner.
2. I can drive you to the airport in the morning.
3. We can bring extra chairs for the meeting.
4. I can look after your dog while you’re away.
5. I can translate that letter into English for you.
6. We can lend you our projector for the presentation.
7. I can stay late and finish the report tonight.
8. I can book the tickets if you tell me the dates.
9. We can pick you up from the hotel at eight.
10. I can show you around the office on your first day.
11. I can water your plants while you’re on holiday.
12. We can cover your shift if you need the morning off.

Can Sentences for Making Suggestions

These sentences propose options, such as eating out, taking the train, and restarting a computer.

1. We can eat out tonight instead of cooking.
2. You can ask the front desk for a map of the city.
3. We can split the bill if that’s easier.
4. You can take the train instead of driving.
5. We can schedule the meeting for Monday morning.
6. You can try restarting the computer first.
7. We can visit the museum while we’re in town.
8. You can use this template to save time on the report.
9. We can cancel the reservation if the weather is bad.
10. You can talk to HR about your holiday request.
11. We can order dessert if you’re not in a hurry.
12. You can apply online instead of waiting in line at the office.

General Truth Sentences with Can

These sentences state facts about nature, animals, and materials, such as water freezing, cheetah speed, and honey lasting for thousands of years.

1. Water can freeze at zero degrees Celsius.
2. Cats can see in very dim light.
3. A cheetah can reach speeds of 120 kilometres per hour.
4. Earthquakes can occur along any active fault line.
5. Honey can last for thousands of years without spoiling.
6. Sound can travel faster through water than through air.
7. Some metals can conduct electricity better than others.
8. Bamboo can grow up to 90 centimetres in a single day.
9. Emperor penguins can hold their breath for over 20 minutes underwater.
10. UV light can damage skin even on cloudy days.
11. A healthy adult heart can beat over 100,000 times a day.
12. Volcanoes can remain dormant for hundreds of years before erupting.
13. Elephants can hear sounds too low for the human ear.
14. A mature oak tree can produce thousands of acorns in one season.

Negative Sentences with Can’t and Cannot

These sentences state what is not possible, from a missing skill to a doubtful claim to a forbidden action.

Can’t and Cannot Sentences for Inability

These sentences name skills and capacities that a person or object lacks, such as swimming, driving a manual car, and connecting a printer.

1. I can’t swim, so I stay in the shallow end.
2. She can’t drive a manual car yet.
3. He can’t read without his glasses.
4. They can’t afford a holiday this year.
5. The baby can’t walk on her own yet.
6. I can’t understand his handwriting at all.
7. She can’t lift anything heavy because of her back injury.
8. He can’t cook anything more complicated than toast.
9. I can’t remember where I put my keys.
10. We can’t hear you from the back of the room.
11. She can’t pronounce the "th" sound in English.
12. I can’t find a paint that matches the colour of the wall.
13. The printer can’t connect to the wireless network.
14. He can’t stay awake past ten o’clock, no matter how hard he tries.
15. The old bridge can’t support heavy trucks.
16. I can’t open this file on my phone.
17. I cannot lift this box on my own.

Can’t and Cannot Sentences for Impossibility

These sentences state that something is not true, such as a wrong address, a package that has not arrived, and a coat left on a chair.

1. You can’t be serious about quitting your job.
2. That can’t be right. The numbers don’t add up.
3. He can’t be at the office already. It’s only six in the morning.
4. This can’t be the correct address. There’s nothing here.
5. She can’t have finished the whole book in one day.
6. They can’t be twins. They look nothing alike.
7. The package can’t have arrived yet. I only sent it an hour ago.
8. That noise can’t be coming from the engine.
9. He can’t know about the surprise party. We told nobody.
10. This can’t be the only solution.
11. She can’t have left already. Her coat is still on the chair.
12. You can’t have eaten the whole cake. It was enormous.
13. He cannot have heard us from the other building.

Can’t and Cannot Sentences for Prohibition

These sentences state what is forbidden, such as smoking indoors, parking in a restricted zone, and photographing a performance.

1. You can’t smoke inside the building.
2. Passengers can’t use electronic devices during takeoff.
3. Students can’t enter the lab without safety goggles.
4. You can’t return items without a receipt.
5. Visitors can’t bring food or drinks into the gallery.
6. Children under ten can’t ride this roller coaster.
7. Drivers can’t exceed 30 miles per hour in this zone.
8. You can’t park here between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
9. Employees can’t share their passwords with anyone.
10. You can’t take photographs during the performance.
11. Customers can’t use the staff car park.
12. You can’t bring pets into the restaurant.
13. Passengers cannot board without a valid ticket.
14. Guests cannot use the pool after ten at night.
15. Applicants cannot submit the form after the deadline.
16. Staff cannot enter the server room without approval.

Question Sentences with Can

These sentences ask about ability, permission, and arrangements as yes or no questions, wh-questions, and short replies.

Can Sentences for Yes or No Questions

These sentences ask about ability, permission, and availability, such as riding a bicycle, taking a seat, and joining a lunch.

1. Can you ride a bicycle?
2. Can she speak Mandarin?
3. Can they finish the project by Thursday?
4. Can he fix the leak in the bathroom?
5. Can you hear that noise coming from upstairs?
6. Can we bring our own food to the event?
7. Can your dog do any tricks?
8. Can I take this seat?
9. Can they deliver the furniture before noon?
10. Can you work late tonight?
11. Can she play any musical instruments?
12. Can we reschedule the appointment to next week?
13. Can you swim in the lake near your house?
14. Can the car fit five passengers and their luggage?
15. Can your sister join us for lunch?
16. Can this laptop run the new software?

Can Sentences for Wh-Questions

These sentences ask where, when, why, who, and how, such as buying concert tickets, starting a project, and the speed of a falcon.

1. Where can I buy tickets for the concert?
2. How can I improve my handwriting?
3. What can we do about the noise?
4. When can you start the new project?
5. Why can’t he come to the party?
6. Who can help me with this form?
7. How many languages can she speak?
8. What time can we check in at the hotel?
9. Where can I find a good Italian restaurant nearby?
10. How fast can a falcon dive?
11. What can I bring to the dinner?
12. How long can you hold your breath?
13. Where can we charge our phones around here?
14. How early can you deliver the package?
15. What can I do to prepare for the interview?
16. Which route can we take to avoid the traffic?

Can Sentences for Short Answers

These sentences pair a question with a reply, such as "Yes, I can," "No, she can’t," and "Of course you can."

1. "Can you drive?" "Yes, I can."
2. "Can she come to the meeting?" "No, she can’t."
3. "Can they deliver on Saturday?" "Yes, they can."
4. "Can I sit here?" "Of course you can."
5. "Can he cook?" "No, he can’t, but he’s learning."
6. "Can you finish by Friday?" "Yes, I can, if nothing else comes up."
7. "Can we bring guests?" "No, I’m afraid you can’t."
8. "Can she see without her glasses?" "No, she can’t."
9. "Can they park in the garage?" "Yes, they can, but only after six."
10. "Can he play the piano?" "Yes, he can. He’s been playing since he was eight."

Passive Sentences with Can

These sentences describe actions that are possible, such as signing documents, recycling batteries, and removing stains.

1. This problem can be solved with a single formula.
2. Fresh vegetables can be delivered to your door every week.
3. The documents can be signed electronically.
4. English can be learned at any age.
5. The meeting can be moved to Wednesday if needed.
6. This shirt can be washed at 40 degrees.
7. Reservations can be made through the website.
8. The noise can be heard from three streets away.
9. Old batteries can be recycled at most supermarkets.
10. These instructions can be downloaded as a PDF.
11. The furniture can be assembled without any tools.
12. All payments can be processed through the app.
13. This material can be stretched without tearing.
14. The results can be viewed online after 24 hours.
15. Complaints can be filed through the customer service portal.
16. The software can be updated to the latest version in under five minutes.
17. The tickets can be collected at the main entrance.
18. Most stains can be removed with cold water.

Conditional Sentences with Can

These sentences state a result that depends on a realistic condition, such as practising daily, booking early, and leaving now.

1. If you practise every day, you can pass the exam.
2. If it rains, we can eat indoors instead.
3. If you book early, you can get a better seat.
4. If she finishes her homework, she can go outside and play.
5. If the traffic is clear, we can arrive before six.
6. If you save a little each month, you can afford the trip by summer.
7. If he asks politely, he can borrow the car.
8. If you need anything, you can call me at any time.
9. If the weather improves, we can have the barbecue on Saturday.
10. If they offer you the job, you can start next month.
11. If you register before Friday, you can get the early discount.
12. If she brings her ID, she can collect the parcel herself.
13. If the client agrees, we can begin work next week.
14. If you finish the course, you can add the certificate to your CV.
15. If you leave now, you can catch the early train.
16. If the shop is open, we can buy the cake today.

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