The Most Confusing English Mistake | "Did You Say CAN or CAN'T?"
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- Опубликовано: 18 апр 2021
- CAN vs. CAN'T has to be one of the aspects of American pronunciation that learners find the most tricky. It can be so difficult to hear the difference! So in this lesson you will learn the difference so you can correctly identify which is being said AND even say them like a native.
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JUST USE "CANNOT"
e
..ooooooooo to get
"Can not" is simple
4:05
According to English dictionaries, the sound of "cannot" at 4:05 is natural to me but is actually a wrong pronunication.
The correct IPA symbol for the word "cannot" is /ˈkænɒt/ or /ˈkænɑːt/, but the man in the video said it /kæ'nɑːt/ or /kæ'nɒt/. (The stress is put in the different position.)
That's why I do not pay too much attention to pronunication in my teaching system because when most of my Taiwanese fellows can't properly understand the "third person singular verb plus s rule", it is meaningless to focus on those minute pronunciation details.
-I can't hear you
-Did you say can or can't?
-I said I can't hear you
This illogic killed me 🤣
😂😂
haha i was thinking the same
Haha
This always happens to me when i speak to my friends lol
Hey, thx 4 the likes :)
"can you hear me?"
" *Yesn't* "
I don't can
Dos'nt
whomst'nt'd
😂😂😂😂
This is hilarious
I cun't
The British pronunciation is clearer: the vowel changes between can and can’t.
Not really.
@@Khaledf then explain your comment
@@nevs4181 cont, con
@@nevs4181 He took that guy's comment as a way to mean the British accent is better, ig.
british buried this problem a 1000 years ago. and american brought it back
Imagine an American saying "I can put a can into a can but a can can't put me into a can"
😂😂
Lol 😂😂😂
Because we can cancan! Because we can cancan!
@@shishinonaito 시시のない또
That's a good one
I’m an American who has spoken English for my entire 25 year life and I CONSTANTLY struggle with differentiating “can” and “can’t”
So I guess there’s no hope for us non native speakers…
Thanks for the native voice, we shall just learn the correct English, just like the Queen
Really? That's unusual. When all else fails, the person/you can just switch to "cannot."
I feel better now because if you can't understand the difference sometimes, what about me who am not a native?
Really?? So have you ever misunderstanded others?
I can hear you => I cun HEAR you
I can't hear you => I CAN hear you
The main difference is the stressed word.
Holy crap man! Soooo helpfull!!! I would never get this one right 10:52 if it hadn't have been for your tip! Thank you sooooooo much! Hugs from Brazil!
I only find this accurate when we're talking with people with British accent. It's American who's hard to understand.
Agree, also I would add that can't (US) actually is pronounced as can+"pause for t but not pronouncing t" when in a sentence.
Brasil aq uhuu
But "cun" sounds like...😳
Just speak the British one ,simple and no confusion 😂
Con't
i caunt hear you
@@celisdeandaeliudalberto5335 it’s more like carnt
@@Suqordia That's posh British,and no-one speaks like that.
@@armstrongtixid6873 I'm from New Zealand and its said like can't with the a sounding like a 'ar'. From C'ar' so like carn't while subtly enthising the t at the end.
As an English speaker I have never even noticed this. But been in lots of situations where I've had to clarify "can or can't" to which the answer is usually "cannot"
Say "CANNOT" instead. Just like some circumstances, when facing some serious question, answer "Affirmative" and "Negative" instead of "Yes" and "No".
For example:
"Can I go to the bathroom?"
a) *you cannot*
b) You can't
Thank you, this is gonna help me a lot
Yes, I can hear you. No, I can hear you
@@user-pp7gb8vy3i try to reach me with that arm
*y o u c a n n o t*
Bro nobody fucking say negative lmao. people gonna deem u a pretentious clown if you say that
OMG... you pushed me back to my school days, when in my 10th board exam of mathematics, the instructor said "you can't tear the graph" (as it was provided at the last page of the copy), I thought she said, "You CAN tear it". I just torn away the graph paper to attach it with my solution in the middle of the copy, and you know what... whole class along with the instructor were stupefied seeing what I did!!! 😂😂😂 I wish I had your lessons those days.
Thanks a lot Ethan 🙏
😂Gosh , haha that was hilarious ! Thanks for sharing your story Ritika. I giggled a lot.
OMG this gave me anxiety back in the day. Our exams require to tear the attendance sheet. Although i know I can, but I always wait for other people to tear theirs first just to be safe.
Moral of the story; don’t use contractions, if they can be hard to tell apart when spoken. So from now on, let’s encourage each other to say “cannot” 😂😂
Agreed :)) I try to use it more regularly. Mainly because I’m only a few years out of Gen Z and it bothers me hahah
I totally agree. I am Danish, and have been speaking English with foreign students for 20 years. I learnt quickly to say "cannot" and "do not". Other advice: [1] Do not use double negatives, in some cultures (like Russian or Italian) they make the negative stronger. [2] Do not ask yes/no questions, in some cultures (mostly Asia), it is impolite to say no.
@@PerMejdal
Did you know that the double negative is formally affirmative and informally negative in English?
Or just enunciate better
@@mar2ck_ though I understand what you're getting at, I however believe that there is much more to it than just enunciation, when trying to converse with one another. We might find trouble trying to decode what is being said, due to barriers and noise, such as dialect/accent or channels of communication; for instance through a phone call.
Words such as "can" and "can't" can easily be believed to be homophones, as they sound quite similar. However, this often comes down to the phonetics of your accent. For instance, in the typical American accent, the "T" by the end of a word tends to be pronounced as a glottal stop - giving it an almost "D"-like sound. As to where it might be more aspirated in the British accent.
Why I pose that "cannot" might be a solution, clearing any doubt ☺️☺️
I live in the US and had a chemistry professor from Venezuela. That’s when I first noticed this. Hearing can or can’t in a lecture was often the difference between getting a question right or wrong on a test. I’m happy to see what’s behind it.
Woman : you can hear me?
Man : i can not hear you
Done ☑️
Right? Simple solution
That’s slow speed
Can you
Ah, so you *can* knot!
@@Sombres modern solution born modern problem
its so simple:
“can you hear me?”
“no”
Unless you couldn't hear the question
As an english learner, there is also the "ty" and "teen" at the end of numbers
Like ninety and nineteen
Teacher: Fifteen.
Student: Fifty, teacher?
Teacher: No. 15.
I used to have a lot of problems with them too, I kinda get it now though, the teen sounds are a little longer than ty sounds.
It's NINEty, but nineTEEN. The stress is what matters.
this is actually such a common mistake it's used as a joke in movies and shows lol
Ninety nineteeeeeeeen
This makes me feel so much better! I always thought it was my accent that prevented people from understanding me whenever I say “can’t”
In American English, I have also heard about the glottal "t" in words like "eaten", "certain", "important", etc. I'm not sure if this is for every American, but I really like this sound.
I guess it’s more common for California, San Francisco, New York accent
I’d say that almost all Americans use the glottal stop when speaking words like the ones you mentioned.
Yeah and the word "cotton" too. It's quite interesting cause I didn't notice americans use glottal stop (I thought it was a british accent thing)
ea'in
cer'un
impor'en'
co'un
“Can you hear me?”
Normal people: “I can’t hear you”
Me: *“WHAT DID YOU SAY?”*
UK: What's that?
You said what?
@@yowhatsdis U said *wot*
What??
I've more or less always been able to tell them apart. The two words just felt different somehow, and after a while it finally clicked as to why. My mother tongue is a tonal language, and I've come to realize that (as mentioned in the video), "can't" usually is said with a rising pitch and "can" is usually said normally.
- I can do it.
vs
- I can't↗️ do it.
Are you native Chinese speaker ?
This video was really necessary! I usually have to use the context of the phrase or situation to understand if it's can or can't.
Thank so much for this fantastic lesson Ethan and I adored the little conversation that you had with Andrea.
Awesome lesson, Ethan! Clear, dynamic, straightforward. All of you are so dedicated and so committed to providing these high quality content lessons that no one can hold a candle to you, guys!
How are you doing 😊☺️👋👋
This is the most detailed Can and Can't lesson I've ever watched on youtube.
Now I can mastering *can't* pronunciation from this video. It's great!
The difference between "can" and "can't" is a little bit hard, I try to identify it by the context
I failed the initial test in the video, but I've never had a problem with can or can't in everyday life... In fact I still suck at distinguishing single words after 7 years in the U.S.
It is for U.S accent, but not for British one
Cant sounds like it stops abruptly, its all in the pitch and the way they say it, so just practice. It even happened to me when someone said it to me, that’s just how the english language is haha
_Received Pronunciation:_
*I can swim.* /aɪ kən ˈswɪm ‖/
*I can't swim.* /aɪ ˈkɑːnt ˈswɪm ‖/
_General American:_
*I can swim.* /aɪ kən ˈswɪm ‖/
*I can't swim.* /aɪ ˈkænt ˈswɪm ‖/
Most useful video I’ve seen !!! Thanks a lot ! that’s exactly what I needed today (I’ve been asking myself how to pronounce can and can’t just this morning) : you’re definitely the best !
Wao, this lesson was so far better than I expected, Thank you Ethan for giving us the key to open the chest of English knowledge! By the way I loved the intro with the lovely Andrea
This is new knowledge to me until seeing your video! I’ve been living in the States for more than a decade, I found myself actually speaking “can’t” exactly three ways you explained. Good job!!
Oh wow!
As a French person I always pronounced "can't" as an British speaker to be sure I was understood correctly. But I learned a lot in this video, now I'm able to pronounce "can't" as a native American, furthermore in different ways. Thank you so much for your time and your explanation. You deserved my subscription. Cheers from France 🇫🇷
Well as a learner we often face difficulties in some pronunciation ways that make us feel confusing especially the using CAN & CAN'T but now I can figure the difference out easily 😉 regards from Kurdistan Region of Iraq. 🌹
I've never considered this issue before. Now that I think about it, I've always just gone with body language and tone to determine whether someone is using positive can or negative can't. Guess I'll keep this in mind for talking with ESL people.
The best ever explanation on this subject! Thank you so much, Ethan! Shared for sure.
Excellent lesson ! I used to struggle to note the difference and it is way easier now. Thank you very much !
I’m thinking about this question for days and this pops up
The American "can't" is one of the most broken English pronunciations. How could something this important and common get to sound so close to its exact opposite? 🤦🏻♂
My exact thoughts
agree. My first language is not English, although I learn from American movies or TV series, I still use the British can’t because the US one is so confusing 🤣
@ Dude, you just explained why it is so confusing, because you need to rely in context and experience to hear it correctly, so you are saying that if you don't have a loooot of practice in USA english, you can't hear both words correctly, it is so dumb.
@@GoodGamer360 I'm American, so I never knew this was hard for non native speakers. What I will do now is say "cannot" if I sense confusion or if the person might be learning English, but use "can't" with native speakers.
@ I don't buy it.
Thanks for your lesson, I’m always make mistake with “can” and “can’t” !
one thing that I've noticed and it becomes really clear with the examples at 6:45 is that the intonation and the word you stress helps a lot in understand if it's can't or can.
Man, this was a really great class, thank you so much!
American English: “I can” (“can” is regularly said quick) “I can’t” (“can’t” is said quick, but between “n” and “t” the sound is stressed) This was hard to describe, and was written before watching the whole video
man thank you that's been my pronuncing issue since I started learning but I never managed to fix it untill now
Siempre he preguntado esto en clase al fin gracias, thanks so much
Hi, I was born in France but speak English since I'm a teenager... Honestly, I never struggled with the two of them because of the context. Truth is, I never realized there was a difference before watching this video lol.
In my case, I've always said can (kan) and can't (kent) so there's no confusion 😁
I love this video. It make me feel like I'm making progress
This KN be the most complete class about CAN I have ever seen. I KEN thank you enough. 😄
Best video ever to explain this! Especially drop T of can't similar with can which can know it by the context
The difference between can and can’t often made me confused.This video is really helpful. Thank you!
For Chinese college entrance examination’s listening test, can and can’t are usually in AmE, and we need to judge what exactly it is from the context
Thank for your help. I were stuck with this stuff for long time but from now i knew how to deal with can and can't in proper way
Glad it helped!
Thank you for making the different so clear
I don't know how to thank u, u'r really really awesome at teaching English😍😍My endless Love from Azerbaijan to U❤🇦🇿
You are very welcome
@K Kerimli Hey!🤩👋🏻
Try using "you" instead of "u"
@@andreimostovoi2533 Thanks for advice🙏I know it's informal texting language:)
I glad to see you🌿
Men iran'n turkim
That's a great conversation
Thank you for this! You are awesome. Easy to understand and absorb!
I love this video! I finally figure out how to pronounce can and can't
thank you so much!!!!
This was so me with my American ex husband. I kept asking him "can or can not??" Lol
I'm Indonesian btw
Now I'm used to it, now I can differ when an American says can or can't.
tinggal suruh pakai "cannot" saja,
atau sekalian "not able to" / "unable to"
Hello ,your videos are great! Thank you so much!✨🤩
Amazing lesson, thank you very much
Thank you so much for this lesson you guys! It was really helpful 👍🏻
People tend to say sorry first if they are going to say they can't do something. It would help you to determine they are going to say CAN or CAN'T
This was the most helpful video for can and can’t. Thanks
This is all i need!!
I think I have a bigger problem... I can’t distinguish between the British pronunciation of the words “can’t” and “c*nt”. I’m so sorry! I just wanna pronounce can’t in a British accent but I don’t wanna insult people 😭😭
Same I just avoid using. Cant’t😅
Hmm, well if you put the words in the right contexts and phrases, I don't think there would be many chances that the listener might confuse between these two, especially if you're speaking to a native speaker or someone who is well-versed in English.
My advice: Make the vowel a long sound. "C*nt" has a short vowel.
I think it's one of those weird distinctions your brain gets trained to recognise if you grow up hearing the "British English short U" ("up", "under", etc). It seems a really uncommon sound outside English! Do you have the same problem with "ship" vs "sheep", by any chance?
By the way, I've heard some Americans say they were trained to say the word "horror" in an altered way, so it doesn't sound like "wh*re" -- in case that helps you feel better 😅
@@JfromUK_ super helpful! Thanks 😊
@@bixby451 No problem 😊 English is a b*tch (not "beach") but it takes foreign learners to point out the hundreds of annoyances to me 😂
According to "stop T" I think you might refer to the case of Allophones called No Audible Plosion. What I want mean is you can not use it in any case, just before other plosive sounds that do not share the same place of articulation. It was just an observation. Nice video!
This is really what i wanna know. Thanks Mr Ethan
Great lesson! I always had this problem before watching this vdo.
I'll try to say it with the stop T, an If I can't I'll just say "Cannot"😂
I can't wait for watching your next video
OMG, you helped me a lot. Many thanks
I have the same problem. Thank you!!
As a native english speaker, I can usually differentiate easily but I tend to have a good ear and rely on context clues. I actually thought it was so easy until I watched this video and I am amazed at how complicated it really is. Sorry people trying to learn english. Americans also tend to drop their 't's with basically everything. Mountains, the t isnt always pronounced. But that also depends on what state/region you're in. So complicated!!!
I can't wait to watch this, I'm so excited. This is going to help me, I assume, I do a lot of mistakes with saying this, I hope I'll fix it someday. BTW, thanks a ton for your channell, I really appreciate your free content. Your channell is helping other learners all around the world to enjoy English, not only studying for schools exams. :)
This video answered my question for so many years! Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
I didn't even know, that I didn't see the differences between can and can't. Thanks 😀
This is easy to differ in daily talk.The most important thing is logic and Intonation. Can is aways used with a 'yes' , or a happy relax face voice or accent.
I literally never heared someone say "can't" the way you did xD it is always clear for me... I never noticed this in films and in conversation with friends/colleagues... tho it might be because I don't speak with Americans (I speak with aussies amd kiwis all the time)
it's possible :)
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the explanation in details. Can't appreciate enough of this video. Not only can I hear the difference better, but I also can pronounce it more correctly. Cheers! :)
Very, very. Very good!!!! So I finally am able to pronunciate can and can't correctly!!!!
I realized that on my first day of exchange studies at UCD, didn’t know I can’t tell the difference before.
Omg. I really like a lot Ethan jajaja sorry, but I love learn english with him 🥴💕
Perfect lesson!Thanks!
Thank you! I've understood!
I've had situations where people mistake can/can't. When that happens I just say "Cannot"
The irony here is since he’s responding to her, he *CAN* hear her but says he can’t.
OMG YES I SAW THAT TOO LOL
OMG. Thank you sooooooooo much, I am really so happy. You guys amazing. When i watch a movie and hear a word you guys used to teach me by your videos, I feel so glad. I hope you get bigger about your channel.
It's the best way to make me understand the prounaun you're teaching
I hear these words very well: You can relax... I can't hear it: you can't relax. And you? :)
Others: confused with can-can't
Me: confused with bud-baaed-bard-bowed-booed- bod-board-bored-bird-bode-buoyed -bad-bed-bared-bade -bayed -beard-bead - bid - bide-bowered - bio ed(ucation).
Your vowels ɑː - ʌ - ɒ - æ - e - ə are tooo similar for me as my native language is Russian. Other Long vowels are sound too similar with short (iː - ɪ, uː - ʊ, ɔː - ɒ) or they are ɜː (it's other hard case); Diphthongs ( aʊ - əʊ - eə - ɔɪ - eɪ - aɪ- ) are quite complicated to be heard, but Triphthongs ( aʊə, aɪə ) make the situation completely crazy as they are almost incredible - it's a challenge even to pronounce them!
Real "vowel orgy"!!!
you guys just give tips ..i want to learn by saving more and more phrases in my mind. i am good at this which i make very big progress everytime it the only way for me
Amazing as usual!!!
I love American accent, that sounds good and so cool 😊😁
Being a Chinese student, it is actually hard for me do tell the difference
Not only chinese students 😂😂
It's basically a second tone for can't and first tone for can
Not really
Same, i use can and cannot, that is much more clear
Thanks for such a great lesson ❤️
Thank very much. Now Iam not confuse anymore
Me, a native speaker not even realizing that she’s pronouncing can’t in so many different ways: 👁👄👁
Hi, Winter A xD
@@wallacesousuke1433 😐
@@wallacesousuke1433 *Winter Z
It's simple: *c a n n o t.*
Like all of you, I CANNOT understand either when I listen to any of these words but I have watched a lot of videos about these words and it is one of the best
realy useful lesson. I was always confused with that
By the way, I saw a person who pronounces either as "aither" for the first time. I know the word can be pronounced in both way but it's really rare to hear the word in that way.
Some british do that.
How about saying "I do not currently posses an ability to can" instead of "can't"
Thanks for your explanation about can and can't.😊
Singing in the Rain musical piece with the diction coach is what I usually show students to explain this issue.