can / can't

In American English, "can" and "can't" can be confusing. They are not pronounced the way they are written. This lesson will help you better understand "can" and "can't" in spoken English. Level: intermediate to advanced.
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Education

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• English
• ESL
• grammar
• pronunciation
• language
• can
• lesson
• learn
• with
• Stacy
• Hagen
• listening
• speaking
• spoken
• fast

[frox54]

But you d o hear a "t" when you say "can't"...

Appreciate your videos! Thanks

[EnglishwithStacy]

@frox54

It depends on the speaker. If a glottal stop is used, you won't hear the "t," even though it may sound like a "t."

[EnglishwithStacy]

I think you are referring to British English. In American English, there is no "r."

[garabuya]

greetings from Venezuela, you are an amazing teacher. At last I understand the difference betwen can and can't.

[EnglishwithStacy]

@garabuya

Thanks for letting me know! I'm so glad the lesson was helpful to you.

[sagifshahab]

Excuse me. Your video says that there is a stressed form of can. Meanwhile other lessons say that i had to stress when i said "can't". how do we tell the difference between stressed "can" and stressed "can't" ?

And i read that most Americans leave out the final t in "can't" when it;s in the middle of a sentence

how do we tell the difference between:

I can talk, and

I can't talk ?

[EnglishwithStacy]

@sagifshahab

Unfortunately, this is one of my early videos and there aren't subtitles for all my sentences, so maybe it wasn't clear. I was talking about stressed "can't."

can -> is unstressed, sounds like "cn"

can't -> is stressed, sounds like "CAN" + a glottal stop (no /t/)

Occasionally for emphasis, we stress "can." The difference between a stressed "can" and stressed "can't" is that "can't" has the glottal stop.

I hope this answers your question. Please let me know.

[mydearbellabear]

you are a wonderful teacher..please post more videos on how to speak English

[sandra29ize]

thanks for the video ma'am! it helps a lot!

[GirTheAwsome1]

READ THIS FOR TIPS IN ENGLISH!!!\

PEOPLE IN America SOME PARTS USE SLANG not proper english so do not be counfused in america and some places have differnt acsents Respond for any quistonis u may send them in other l other laughes

[TheIsahn]

wow you were very helpful thanks

[mhclarkson]

Thank you! This was very helpful.

[Sigoroth]

It's easier to avoid confusion when you pronounce 'can't' properly. It's pronounced 'karnt'.

[pengan667]

thanks a lot, this video is so helpful

[chakimhamzah]

thank stacy, I am teaching at SMPN 102 Cijantung, Jakarta, Indonesia.

you help my students to differe sound can and can't . actually in British english much easier to differ them but american speech is not the same. Chakim Hamzah/ Mr.Kim, Indonesia email : frans115@yahoo.com or Facebook : Chakim Hamzah