cannot
gb/kænˈɑt/ us/kænˈɑt/
A1
English
nem tud, nem szabad, tilos, nem lehet, lehetetlen, nem hajlandó, nem áll módjában, biztosan nem, kizárt, hogy
A1
1
nem tud
A1
Usage pattern:
[someone] cannot [do something]
I cannot open this jar.
Nem tudom kinyitni ezt a befőttesüveget.
She cannot drive at night without her glasses.
Szemüveg nélkül nem tud éjszaka vezetni.
We cannot finish today because the files are missing.
Learner examples
I cannot swim.
Nem tudok úszni.
He cannot come today.
Ma nem tud jönni.
Common mistake:
In modern English, it is usually written as one word (cannot). The form “can not” is uncommon and usually used only for emphasis.
Meaning
not able to do something
Collocations
cannot do
|cannot come
|cannot find
|cannot remember
|cannot see
|cannot hear
|cannot understand
|cannot decide
|cannot move
|cannot sleep
Synonyms
be unable to (More formal and used like a normal verb phrase.)
|
can't (The common spoken contraction.)
Antonyms
can (Expresses ability or possibility.)
Themes
daily_life
|ability
Definition
It means “not able to.”
Used to say that someone is not able to do something because of lack of ability, time, resources, or other limitations.
A2
2
nem szabad
A2
tilos
A2
Usage pattern:
[someone] cannot [do something] (here/in this place/under these rules)
You cannot park here after 6 p.m.
Este 6 után itt nem szabad parkolni.
Visitors cannot enter the lab without an escort.
A látogatóknak kísérő nélkül nem szabad belépniük a laborba.
You cannot use your phone during the exam.
Learner examples
We cannot smoke here.
Itt nem szabad dohányozni.
You cannot bring food inside.
Ide nem szabad ételt behozni.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse this meaning with “not able to.” In signs and rules, cannot often means “not permitted.”
Meaning
not permitted to do something
Collocations
cannot enter
|cannot park
|cannot smoke
|cannot use
|cannot bring
|cannot access
|cannot carry
|cannot return
|cannot board
|cannot be admitted
Synonyms
may not (Common in formal rules and permissions.)
|
must not (Often stronger, emphasizing prohibition.)
Antonyms
may (Expresses permission.)
|
can (In some contexts, expresses permission (informal).)
Themes
rules
|public_places
Definition
It means “not allowed to.”
Used to say that something is not allowed by rules, law, or authority.
B1
3
nem lehet
A1
lehetetlen
B1
Usage pattern:
[something] cannot [happen/be done/be achieved]
This door cannot be opened from the outside.
Ezt az ajtót kívülről nem lehet kinyitni.
A square cannot have three sides.
Egy négyzetnek nem lehet három oldala.
With these temperatures, the battery cannot last all day.
Learner examples
It cannot happen.
Ez nem történhet meg.
This cannot be done today.
Ezt ma nem lehet megcsinálni.
Meaning
impossible to happen or be done
Collocations
cannot happen
|cannot be done
|cannot be avoided
|cannot be changed
|cannot be undone
|cannot work
|cannot last
|cannot continue
|cannot exist
|cannot fail
Synonyms
be impossible to (More explicit and often more formal.)
|
there is no way to (More conversational; emphasizes certainty.)
Antonyms
can (Expresses possibility.)
|
be possible to (Direct opposite phrasing.)
Themes
logic
|daily_life
Definition
It means “it is not possible.”
Used to say that something is impossible or cannot happen, often because of facts, conditions, or limits in reality.
B1
4
Usage pattern:
[someone] cannot [accept/agree/allow] [something]
I cannot accept this money.
Nem tudom elfogadni ezt a pénzt.
We cannot agree to those terms.
Nem tudjuk elfogadni ezeket a feltételeket.
She cannot allow her name to be used in the advertisement.
Learner examples
I cannot accept it.
Nem tudom elfogadni.
He cannot agree.
Nem tud beleegyezni.
Common mistake:
This meaning is about choice or attitude (refusal), not physical ability.
Meaning
refuse or be unwilling to
Collocations
cannot accept
|cannot agree
|cannot allow
|cannot support
|cannot approve
|cannot risk
|cannot tolerate
|cannot justify
|cannot forgive
|cannot face
Synonyms
refuse to (More direct and explicit.)
|
won't (More informal and often stronger.)
Antonyms
agree to (Accepts a request or plan.)
|
be willing to (Shows readiness to do something.)
Themes
social
|emotions
Definition
It can mean “I will not” or “I refuse to.”
Used to say that someone refuses to do something or is not willing to accept or allow something, often in a firm or polite way.
B2
5
Usage pattern:
[something] cannot be [true/right/possible]
This cannot be the final version; it still has spelling errors.
Ez nem lehet a végleges változat; még vannak benne helyesírási hibák.
He cannot have written this alone—it’s too technical.
Nem lehet, hogy ezt egyedül írta – túl szakmai a szöveg.
That cannot be right; the total is higher than the budget.
Learner examples
It cannot be true.
Ez nem lehet igaz.
That cannot be right.
Ez nem lehet helyes.
Meaning
used for strong negative certainty
Collocations
cannot be true
|cannot be right
|cannot be serious
|cannot have
|cannot possibly
|cannot be the case
|cannot mean
|cannot be real
|cannot be explained
|cannot be denied
Synonyms
can't (More common in speech; same meaning.)
|
must not be (Also expresses deduction, often slightly more formal.)
Antonyms
must be (Expresses strong positive deduction.)
|
can be (Allows the possibility.)
Themes
logic
|opinions
Definition
It means “I’m sure it isn’t true/possible.”
Used to say that something is certainly not true, not correct, or not the case, based on reasoning or evidence.
Grammar
Dictionary form
cannot
IPA
GB/kænˈɑt/
US/kænˈɑt/
Syllables & stress
can - not (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (not)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: cannot
- Plural: cannots
Word family
Expressions
cannot ... enough
1/kænˈɑt | ɪnˈʌf/
fixed phrase
emphasize that something is very great
It means “as much as possible; very, very much.”
Examples
- I cannot thank you enough for your help.
- We cannot recommend this restaurant enough.
- She cannot praise her team enough.
Learner examples
- I cannot thank you enough.
cannot afford (to) [do something]
1/kænˈɑt əfˈɔɹd tə dˈu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
not have money or ability to risk
It means “I don’t have enough money” or “it’s too risky.”
Examples
- We cannot afford a bigger apartment right now.
- I cannot afford to miss any more work.
- The company cannot afford to lose its biggest customer.
Learner examples
- I cannot afford it.
- We cannot afford to buy a car.
cannot be bothered (to) [do something]
1/kænˈɑt bˈi bˈɑðɚd tə dˈu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
idiom
informal
not willing to make the effort
It means “I don’t want to do it because it feels like too much effort.”
Examples
- I cannot be bothered to cook tonight, so let’s order pizza.
- He cannot be bothered with the paperwork.
- She cannot be bothered to argue about it anymore.
Learner examples
- I cannot be bothered to go out.
- He cannot be bothered with it.
cannot but [do something]
1/kænˈɑt bˈʌt dˈu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
must do; cannot avoid
It means “must” or “cannot avoid.”
Examples
- I cannot but agree with your conclusion.
- She cannot but admire his patience.
- We cannot but wonder what happened next.
cannot complain
1/kænˈɑt kəmplˈeɪn/
fixed phrase
say you are fine or okay
It means “I’m doing okay.”
Examples
- “How’s work?” “Cannot complain.”
- I cannot complain—things have been pretty good lately.
- We cannot complain, considering how busy everyone else is.
Learner examples
- I cannot complain.
cannot help (doing) [something]
1/kænˈɑt hˈɛlp dˈuɪŋ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
be unable to stop oneself
It means “I can’t stop myself.”
Examples
- I cannot help laughing when I watch that scene.
- She cannot help worrying about her son.
- He cannot help thinking that something is wrong.
Learner examples
- I cannot help smiling.
- She cannot help crying.
cannot stand [someone/something]
1/kænˈɑt stˈænd sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
strongly dislike or tolerate
It means “I really dislike it” or “I can’t tolerate it.”
Examples
- I cannot stand that constant noise.
- He cannot stand being interrupted.
- She cannot stand the way he talks to staff.
Learner examples
- I cannot stand this music.
- He cannot stand waiting.
cannot wait
1/kænˈɑt wˈeɪt/
fixed phrase
be very excited for something
It means “I’m very excited and want it soon.”
Examples
- I cannot wait to see you tomorrow.
- They cannot wait for the holidays to start.
- She cannot wait to tell her parents the news.
Learner examples
- I cannot wait!
- We cannot wait to go.