cannot
gb/kænˈɑt/ us/kænˈɑt/
A1
Anglais
Sens
0 sens
modal_verb
A1
state
1
not able to do something
It means “not able to.”
Schéma d’usage :
[someone] cannot [do something]
Erreur fréquente :
In modern English, it is usually written as one word (cannot). The form “can not” is uncommon and usually used only for emphasis.
Synonymes
be unable to (More formal and used like a normal verb phrase.)
|
can't (The common spoken contraction.)
Antonymes
can (Expresses ability or possibility.)
Collocations
cannot do
|cannot come
|cannot find
|cannot remember
|cannot see
|cannot hear
|cannot understand
|cannot decide
|cannot move
|cannot sleep
Thèmes
daily_life
|ability
Exemples
- I cannot open this jar.
- She cannot drive at night without her glasses.
- We cannot finish today because the files are missing.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I cannot swim.
- He cannot come today.
modal_verb
A2
rule
2
not permitted to do something
It means “not allowed to.”
Schéma d’usage :
[someone] cannot [do something] (here/in this place/under these rules)
Erreur fréquente :
Do not confuse this meaning with “not able to.” In signs and rules, cannot often means “not permitted.”
Synonymes
may not (Common in formal rules and permissions.)
|
must not (Often stronger, emphasizing prohibition.)
Antonymes
may (Expresses permission.)
|
can (In some contexts, expresses permission (informal).)
Collocations
cannot enter
|cannot park
|cannot smoke
|cannot use
|cannot bring
|cannot access
|cannot carry
|cannot return
|cannot board
|cannot be admitted
Thèmes
rules
|public_places
Exemples
- You cannot park here after 6 p.m.
- Visitors cannot enter the lab without an escort.
- You cannot use your phone during the exam.
Exemples pédagogiques
- We cannot smoke here.
- You cannot bring food inside.
modal_verb
B1
state
3
impossible to happen or be done
It means “it is not possible.”
Schéma d’usage :
[something] cannot [happen/be done/be achieved]
Synonymes
be impossible to (More explicit and often more formal.)
|
there is no way to (More conversational; emphasizes certainty.)
Antonymes
can (Expresses possibility.)
|
be possible to (Direct opposite phrasing.)
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
Thèmes
logic
|daily_life
Exemples
- This door cannot be opened from the outside.
- A square cannot have three sides.
- With these temperatures, the battery cannot last all day.
Exemples pédagogiques
- It cannot happen.
- This cannot be done today.
modal_verb
B1
state
4
refuse or be unwilling to
It can mean “I will not” or “I refuse to.”
Schéma d’usage :
[someone] cannot [accept/agree/allow] [something]
Erreur fréquente :
This meaning is about choice or attitude (refusal), not physical ability.
Synonymes
refuse to (More direct and explicit.)
|
won't (More informal and often stronger.)
Antonymes
agree to (Accepts a request or plan.)
|
be willing to (Shows readiness to do something.)
Collocations
cannot accept
|cannot agree
|cannot allow
|cannot support
|cannot approve
|cannot risk
|cannot tolerate
|cannot justify
|cannot forgive
|cannot face
Thèmes
social
|emotions
Exemples
- I cannot accept this money.
- We cannot agree to those terms.
- She cannot allow her name to be used in the advertisement.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I cannot accept it.
- He cannot agree.
modal_verb
B2
relation
5
used for strong negative certainty
It means “I’m sure it isn’t true/possible.”
Schéma d’usage :
[something] cannot be [true/right/possible]
Synonymes
can't (More common in speech; same meaning.)
|
must not be (Also expresses deduction, often slightly more formal.)
Antonymes
must be (Expresses strong positive deduction.)
|
can be (Allows the possibility.)
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
Thèmes
logic
|opinions
Exemples
- This cannot be the final version; it still has spelling errors.
- He cannot have written this alone—it’s too technical.
- That cannot be right; the total is higher than the budget.
Exemples pédagogiques
- It cannot be true.
- That cannot be right.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
cannot
API
GB/kænˈɑt/
US/kænˈɑt/
Syllabes et accentuation
can - not (2 syllabes)
Stress on 2nd syllable (not)
Formes du mot
Noun
- Base: cannot
- Plural: cannots
Famille de mots
Expressions
cannot ... enough
1/kænˈɑt | ɪnˈʌf/
fixed phrase
emphasize that something is very great
It means “as much as possible; very, very much.”
Exemples
- I cannot thank you enough for your help.
- We cannot recommend this restaurant enough.
- She cannot praise her team 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.”
Exemples
- 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.
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.”
Exemples
- 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.
cannot but [do something]
1/kænˈɑt bˈʌt dˈu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
must do; cannot avoid
It means “must” or “cannot avoid.”
Exemples
- 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.”
Exemples
- “How’s work?” “Cannot complain.”
- I cannot complain—things have been pretty good lately.
- We cannot complain, considering how busy everyone else is.
cannot help (doing) [something]
1/kænˈɑt hˈɛlp dˈuɪŋ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
be unable to stop oneself
It means “I can’t stop myself.”
Exemples
- I cannot help laughing when I watch that scene.
- She cannot help worrying about her son.
- He cannot help thinking that something is wrong.
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.”
Exemples
- I cannot stand that constant noise.
- He cannot stand being interrupted.
- She cannot stand the way he talks to staff.
cannot wait
1/kænˈɑt wˈeɪt/
fixed phrase
be very excited for something
It means “I’m very excited and want it soon.”
Exemples
- I cannot wait to see you tomorrow.
- They cannot wait for the holidays to start.
- She cannot wait to tell her parents the news.