Can not/can't

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Can not/can't
Message from a_limon posted on 07-05-2012 at 13:32:26 (D | E | F)
Hi!

Could you tell me please ~~whether any~~ the difference between "can't" and "can not", or it is always the same.
How can one say "horse can go without food only one day."
in other words, something like "Horse can not eat only during one day" Is it the same to say: "horse can go without food only one day."= "Horse can not eat only during one day"
Thank you.

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Edited by lucile83 on 07-05-2012 14:27

Re: Can not/can't from lucile83, posted on 07-05-2012 at 14:47:00 (D | E)
Hello,

First of all, can not doesn't exist.We say:
cannot or can't.

I leave the other questions to other members

Re: Can not/can't from sherry48, posted on 07-05-2012 at 14:52:33 (D | E)
Hello again. Actually, there are three possibilities; can't, can not, and cannot. The dictionary will tell you that both the two word and one word forms are acceptable, but many people insist on one word. As for the contraction, can't, it's almost always used in conversation in the U.S. I always tell my students that Americans like everything fast, so they prefer the contraction, but for beginners, especially those from South and Central America, I tell them it is best for them to use cannot until they are able to correctly pronounce can't. If I use can not, it is probably to emphasize the impossibility of something, with the stress on the second syllable...You can NOT go!
I hope this helps.
Sherry

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Edited by sherry48 on 09-05-2012 03:50

Re: Can not/can't from sherry48, posted on 07-05-2012 at 14:54:56 (D | E)
Hello lucile.
We posted at the same time.
Most dictionaries will now accept can not, but I suspect it's only because people insisted on writing it that way!
Originally, I think it had to be cannot, and perhaps it is still that way in the UK, I don't know.
Sherry

Re: Can not/can't from lucile83, posted on 07-05-2012 at 15:11:22 (D | E)
Hello sherry,

Well, I have never heard of 'can not' in 2 words.Perhaps it is typically American, I don't know.

We can see it in a very old spelling:
Link

but I doubt it is still used.

We may find the use of 'can not' in sentences such as
you can come next Friday or you can not come
which is a completely different meaning from 'you cannot come'.

Re: Can not/can't from a_limon, posted on 07-05-2012 at 15:34:18 (D | E)
Thank you!
But it is still not clear to me. Tell me how I can get it.
The horse can't eat. (because he is ill, he has not teeth)
The horse can not eat during a day.. (because he has such special nature feature, or he is so trained)

Re: Can not/can't from a_limon, posted on 07-05-2012 at 16:01:58 (D | E)
You can't come in. (I don't allow you to come in)
You canNOT come in. (The door is closed)
You can not come in. (But all the rest people must come in.)

Re: Can not/can't from lucile83, posted on 07-05-2012 at 18:49:35 (D | E)
Hello,

The horse can't eat. (because he is ill, he has not teeth) OK
The horse can not eat during a day.. (because he has such special nature feature, or he is so trained) is able not to eat

You can't come in. (I don't allow you to come in) OK
You canNOT come in. (The door is closed) OK
You can not come in. (But all the rest people must come in.) It sounds strange and I'd say:You can stay outside if you want

Re: Can not/can't from a_limon, posted on 07-05-2012 at 19:18:17 (D | E)
Hello, Lucile!
Thank you. It seems I begin to understand a little by a little.

Horse is able not to eat-it is what I mean! Could one say it like? "Horse can not eat"

You can not come in. (But all the rest people must come in.) It sounds strange and I'd say:You can stay outside if you want.
Yes, I agree, it sounds strange. It sounds like you may not come in.

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