Meaning of can not | Babel Free

Definitions

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see can, not.

Equivalents

Examples

“One ſayth this and a nother that / but can not agre. Nether can any of them make⟳ ſo ſtronge a reaſon vvhich a nother can not improve⟳.”

““Oh, dear Arthur, I am so glad! Hurrah for Dunwich fair!” shouted the boy. “Be quiet, foolish child, we can not go without my father’s leave⟳,” said Elizabeth. “Yes, yes, you can; it is but for once, and I will take⟳ all the blame⟳ upon myself,” cried Arthur Blackbourne. “Goodness, Arthur! I never disobeyed my father in my life.””

“A husband can not, without authority from his wife, plat her land⟳, and the fact that the land⟳ which he assumes to plat was omitted by mistake⟳ from a previous plat made and acknowledged by her can make⟳ no difference.”

““But,” he protested before he took a step to depart, “you can not leave⟳ me this way. […]”

“Whatever may be said in favor of bounties on the larger beasts of prey, those on hawks, owls, and the smaller fur-bearing animals can not be justified.”

““No! You can’t go. You can not go right now. You can not leave⟳ me to deal⟳ with this—with her—by myself!””

“This “IV negation”, with emphatic stress⟳, shows up in sentences like⟳ You can nót go to the party (“You have⟳ the option of not going to the party”) and You can’t nót go to the party (“You have⟳ no choice but to go to the party”).”

“You can 'not obey⟳ the order⟳, can’t you?”

“‘You’re mad,’ said Squidge. ‘You can’t not go because of me. Forget⟳ it.’ ‘I can not go and I’m not going. I’ll stay⟳ here and look⟳ after you.[…]’”

““I’m laying on my back, facing up. I can’t not see⟳ the ceiling fan.” “You can not scowl at it. What were you thinking about?””

“‘But they depend⟳ on me. I can’t not go,’ says Ma, disconcerted. ‘I’ve made a commitment.’ / ‘Actually, Tanisi-ji, you can''' not go,’ says Cookie Auntie firmly. ‘You can send⟳ a note⟳ with a message that your eldest daughter is getting married. Sahib Ali is a family man. He will understand⟳.[…]’”

CEFR level