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The modal verb "can" under the microscope

By Mubarak Abdessalami

            It's already encouraging that "can" is used for offering help.

Prelude

            In this paper, we’ll try, together, to discover what we miss about this amazing word and see where its influential dominance over interpersonal communication begins and where it fades away. What I am talking about, here, is not the noun which refers to the cylindrical thing we also call a tin, a container or a canister. What I mean is the mystifying modal auxiliary verb “can”. It is referred to as “modal” because it has a mood. Funny, No?! Not really; "mood refers to a formally grammaticalized category of the verb which has a modal function" (1)

            Like other modal verbs, such as “will”, “must”, “may” etc, “can” never takes “to” for the infinitive so there is no “to can”. It doesn’t take “s” in the third person singular in the present, either: you cannot say “she cans” for instance. Its negative form is always “cannot” (standard) contracted into “can’t” for all persons and its past and conditional is “could”. For you, maybe these clues are not of major importance as you already know them; however can’s controlling power over meaning in natural language certainly is. “Can” is able to serve a number of functions and this, in fact, is what counts the most in our research.

            Generally, “can” is known for its expressing, ability, possibility, request and permission, but if you look closer and deeper, you’ll realize that there are some other functions, in natural language, that are actually within this modal verb’s area of competence; but we rarely take notice of them. However, it is always a matter of syntax and semantics. We are not here absolutely talking about “linguistic modality”, “Grammatical mood” or “Categorial Grammars” even though we are not really far-off. We are rather and simply trying to distinguish the various semantic fundamentals of “can” within the sphere of spoken -but also of written- communication. On this point particularly, there might be some mood ambiguity that I need you not to let go without scrutiny. When it comes to the semantic properties of “Can”, it is not always clear and detectable in all circumstances; it greatly depends on the way it is used and articulated. Some messages are not really decipherable because of “can” until they are spoken out or backed up with supplementary expounding context. Consequently, there are lots of hidden or blurring meanings which indicate that the common “can”, we all make use of, is actually hard to find because it belongs to a diffident species.

            "Can" has a special status among modal verbs because it places itself in many utterances as chief decisive about the meaning, not one meaning actually but various meanings; often with the valuable help of syllabic emphasis, pitch, tone, pan and intonation when pronounced; “can” can overpass the other modals in authority over functional styles of speech.

Initiation

            Before I start, I’d like to draw the readers’ attention that this paper is meant for non-native speakers of English in the first place. As for native speakers, they use “can” in their daily interactive communication unpremeditatedly. In natural language, let’s emphasize that once more, the use of “can” depends greatly on lots of factors including, context, intonation, tone and emphasis among others. Therefore, the functions that “can” serve are not generally visible unless they are put under the style-detector microscope. And that’s what we, together, intend to explore here.

Switch on the microscope

            Let’s first make our way into illustrating the idea. In English there are lots of modal verbs and they all serve different purposes. However, the modal verb “can” is a little special for its inconceivable ability to appear in different locations without disguise but with a different personality and function each time. Its impact is immense.

            Contemplate these sentences and try to find out the impact of “can” in each of them. I have made them two sets of utterances to facilitate the task.

            In each of the sentences on the left, “can” - be it affirmative, negative or interrogative - has a specific function to accomplish. Now try to match the sentences with the labels on the right.

Task I

1. Can you read this for me, please? a Ability
2. You can have a day off tomorrow.b. Asking for confirmation.
3. Can I use your mobile phone, please?c. Inviting
4. Can we rely on those friends of yours?d. Asking for permission.
5. The child can read and write. e. Giving permission.
6. Can you come to my party tomorrow? f. Request

Task II

1. You can't be hungry. You have just eaten a banana. a) Inability
2. You can use my bike if you are late. b) Prohibition
3. You can't park your car in the alley. c) Possibility
4. She can't write with her left hand. d) Complaint
5. They can come to the party tonight. e) Logical deduction
6. You can't do this to me! We had an accord, no?! f) Offer

            As you can see, the same little three-letter-word “can” is used in a multitude of contexts to serve various goals. It has invaded different linguistic fields in natural language and has made itself noticeable, needed and useful.

KEY

            Now let’s mull over these functions and others closely. We’ll deal with them one by one.

01. Expressing Ability
            "Can" is commonly used to convey or describe the ability to do something. In this case, “Can” normally means “be able to” , “know how to” or “be capable of”, for example,

02. Expressing inability
            To express inability, “can” is always in the negative form. However, we need to pay more attention because it also expresses impossibility or even prohibition. That’s why the context and the way the statement is articulated make the difference. e.g.

1. "I can't speak Chinese". This means I am unable to speak Chinese.

2. “You can’t touch your nose with your elbow”. Not only does this sentence express inability but impossibility as well. It says, “You are not able to touch your nose with your elbow because it is impossible and nobody else can”.

3. “You can’t sneeze with your eyes open”. (This implies that your inability to sneeze with your eyes open is because it is impossible and it is experimented.)

4. “You can’t travel abroad without a passport.” The “you” here is more general and it doesn’t designate one person specifically -who is “you” here- but everybody. In some other situation, it may express prohibition. For example, at the airport, a passenger wants to travel abroad but he doesn’t own a passport. The officer saying this wants the person in question to abide by the law as everybody else does.

            Clearly the diffident nature of “can” is only perceptible when it is used in very specific plain and clear situations. The meaning will obviously be shaky if not misinterpreted or misunderstood whenever one or both of context and intonation are absent.

5. “I can’t ride a bike”. Here, the speaker shows his or her inability to ride a bicycle. Maybe the message implies that the speaker is forced not to ride a bike by an authority be it a parent or a doctor or someone else. If any changes occur in the body of the sentence, the sentence will get different or extra meaning, like when “a bike” becomes “the bike” and so on.

            The most remarkable thing about “can” is that it can leave room for diverse interpretations, especially if the massage is not reinforced with further explanations or particular tone. Therefore, the intrinsic value of the modal is first because when it comes to “can”, we are visibly dealing with disposition modality; meaning the potentiality that you will do something when you can do it.

03. Expressing Possibility
            "Can" expresses the possibility to do something or the potentiality that something may take place. “Can” is included here under intrinsic modality.

            These utterances could abruptly express probability once “can” is replaced by “may”. And this is the intricate amazing thing about root modality in general; they swap roles in most functions.

04. Asking for permission
             “Can” is used to ask for permission the same way as with “may” but not with any other modal verb.

05. Granting or declining permission
            “Can” is most recommended when we want to allow someone to do something. This is almost an utterly exclusive act of “can”. 06. Making Requests
            Like the modal auxiliary verb "will", "can" is also used to make requests. There are levels of politeness in making requests and “can” always plays the major role. 07. Inviting
            “Can” is also suggested when you want to invite someone. 08. Asking for confirmation
            Tag questions with “can” are frequently used to make sure something is what you think it is. “Can” is able to ask for confirmation in many question structures, though. You generally seek a confirmation of ability, possibility or else. 09. Expressing Prohibition
            Prohibition is commonly expressed by means of “mustn’t” because this modal verb is bossier and more suitable for this function particularly; however, “cannot” does the same when the allusion is clear: When something is against the norms or the law, we say,        Such constructions may also be used in expressing impossibility. Most of these prohibitions are not expressed verbally but through signs, like ‘NO SMOKING” etc

10. Complaining
            “Can” is rarely noticed or considered as a vehicle of complaint expressions except for some specific situations like:

11. Making Offers
            “Can” is the most suitable modal verb for making offers par excellence. Nevertheless, one has to pay attention because there is quite a slight uniformity between using “can” for offer and for permission. 12. Logical deduction
            When it comes to inference, conclusion or logical necessity, “must” is used for positive deductions whereas “can’t” is used for negation or for what can be termed “logical impossibility”. This is, most probably, the only instance where “can’t” is the opposite of “must”. We use “must” to make affirmative logical deductions, like in On the other hand "can't" is used to make negative logical deductions. We use “can’t” to say that the conclusion from given premises is the most improbable. “Can” is mostly used to express our judgements of events effectively. We use “can’t” particularly to make inferences like
  1. Is it Nadia who is making that deafening noise outside?
  2. No! It can’t be Nadia. She is still in bed.
  1. Look! The vase is broken. It must be the cat.
  2. No, it can’t be. The cat doesn't like to hang around here.
13. Feelings
                                    "Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave
                                    My heart into my mouth. I love your Majesty
                                    According to my bond, no more nor less.” (2).

            This is what crosses my mind when I wanted to talk about “can” expressing feelings. It looks a little hard to express true Love, doesn't it? Cordelia, in Shakespeare’s tragedy play: King Lear, couldn't profess her love for her father like her sisters because she believes that there’s no bargaining in emotions. The matter of sincere feelings is beyond words. She even styles that this way,

                                    "… I am sure my love's
                                    More ponderous than my tongue"(2)

       Still, apart from this philosophical stand, feelings can be displayed and spoken through words.

            "Can", among other modal verbs, is an active component of our language when it is matter of expressing emotions, feelings or attitudes. You cannot find better word than “can” to display your disappointment, surprise, impatience and determination to name only a few. Therefore,

13. a/ Disappointment or Surprise
            When you are disappointed or surprised, “can” is always there to assist you to show that openly. 13. b/ Showing impatience
            Showing impatience doesn't escape “can”. You can use “can” to express your being impatient about something or about doing something. 13. c/ Showing Determination
            You can also use “can” to show that you are resolute and resolved about fixing and settling a goal. 13. d/ Giving instructions
            Giving instructions is also a “boss” job that the modal “can” is able to effectuate. 13. e/ Senses
            "Can" is perhaps the most suitable modal auxiliary to be used with 'see' 'hear' 'feel' 'smell' and 'taste'
14. Suggesting
            “Can” amazingly shifts in function from asking for permission to suggesting by just replacing “I” with “we”. 15. Idioms & phrasal verbs
Can't help: not be able to control or stop something.
Can't stand: be unable to tolerate, don’t like.
Can't bear: be unable to tolerate, dislike.
Can't put up with: not able to tolerate, unable to endure more.
Can't afford: not to have money enough to do something,
Can't abide: not be able to tolerate, accept
Can't stomach: dislike, not be able to endure,
Can't resist: can’t fight back temptation or urge to do something,
Can/can't handle: be able/unable to manipulate, manage, bear or deal with             Moreover, we can frequently hear some more idiomatic expressions like “can't think straight”, “just can't win”, “can't take eyes off someone or something”, “can’t hear oneself breathe”, “can do without” and so on and so forth.

            Because of all this and more, “can” may generate ambiguity and confusion or even an unanticipated meaning. So in order for speakers to make themselves clear, conveying easily decipherable meanings, they need to rely greatly on the context and certain levels of tone effects.

            In this regard, I think most of you have seen the science fiction action movie “I, Robot” (2004) starring Will Smith. One scene particularly in the movie gave “can” a particular power. It is the interrogation scene where Detective Spooner (Will Smith) interrogates Sonny (the robot).

Detective Del Spooner: Robots don't feel fear. They don't feel anything. They don't eat, they don't sleep-

Sonny: I do. I have even had dreams.

Detective Del Spooner: Human beings have dreams. Even dogs have dreams, but not you. You are just a machine, an imitation of life. Can a robot write a symphony? Can a robot turn a... canvas into a beautiful masterpiece?

Sonny: Can you ? (3)

            "Can" in sonny’s question suddenly turns magical. It is not innocent at all. It doesn’t seek to know if Detective Spooner can write a symphony or turn a canvas into a beautiful masterpiece. On the contrary, it has demolished the presumption that a human being -any human being- can write a symphony or can turn a canvas into a beautiful masterpiece. It is true that robots can’t do any of those things; still, the detective who is a human being can’t either. Sonny’s “Can you?” unexpectedly makes the whole Spooner’s allegations mere fallacies.

            By the way, detective Del Spooner call Sonny, “canner”. Yes, it has nothing to do with our talk maybe; but still there is a "can" in it.

16. Doubt OR confusion
            "Can’t" is generally used with "tell" to show it clear that the speaker is either not sure or he is confused or bewildered about an issue or an event.

17. Asking for direction
            There are many ways to ask for direction and using "can" is one of them. 18. Asking for clarification
            We have previously talked about “can” used to ask for confirmation. In the same regard it can be used to ask for clarification or to ask for clarification for good understanding. The only particular thing about this sort of style is that “can” is better changed into “could”. With “could” you are more polite? 19. Agreeing and disagreeing with an opinion
            “Can” could make it simple and more practical for one to agree or disagree with a point of view.

Agreeing

Disagreeing

Rehearsing

A. Can you tell what "can" is used here to express.

                        They can put you up.

  1. Does it express ability?
    => They are able to accommodate you because they have plenty of vacant rooms.
  2. Or does it express possibility?
    => It is possible that they accommodate you if they get to know you well or for other reasons.

B. What does this mean to you?

                        I can't understand.

  1. It is difficult for me to understand anything.
  2. This is a little hard for me to understand what you are saying.
  3. I am confused by what has happened.
  4. Because this is unusual or strange, I can’t understand (it).
  5. Understanding is a handicap for me. (I am slow. I can’t understand no matter how hard you try to make me.)
         More than that, “can” is highly sensitive to its surrounding context. It is easily affected by any words added or omitted in a construction. See if “can” here expresses the same thing:
  1. I can play the guitar at the party if they invite me to.
  2. I can play the guitar everywhere I go.
  3. I can play the guitar at the party.
  4. I can play the guitar, can’t I?
  5. I can play the guitar.
         This group of sentences keeps the basic focus “I can play the guitar”; however, the few words added or changed here and there force can to bear a completely different function in each sentence. Here is the list of functions "can" expresses in each of the above sentences.
  1. Conditional
  2. Permission
  3. Possibility
  4. Confirmation.
  5. Ability

C. Here is another statement,

                   "Well, I've had enough; I can't put up with this situation any further".

Does it express …

  1. inability?
  2. impossibility?
  3. complaint? OR
  4. prohibition?

D. Look at this one,

                        Oh! I can see now!

This sentence can have two distinct meanings

  1. I am able to use my eyes to see (again)
  2. I understand now.
            Most of the time it is not evident that the meaning of a discrete sentence with "can" in written communication - especially - is easily graspable. We always need to be informed about the global context in which it is used. People usually overlook those little differences to assume that it means what they want it to mean and this premeditated attitude towards vague messages creates a lot of misunderstanding of course. Therefore; much prudence is dearly needed here for sometimes one structure can have more than one functional meaning particularly in discrete sentences like this one,

E. John Doe didn't say anything else. Can you infer what he wanted to say?

                   John Doe: "I can speak."

            Here, the meaning is completely lost in the mess of the reader’s moods, impressions and interpretations. Each one of us will understand it the way it pleases and suits him better. The meaning of the sentence is ultimately mere guesswork.

  1. Does John Doe want to say that he is capable of speaking again (after being dumb, aphasic or speech-impaired for a long time or after a chirurgical operation for instance),
  2. Or does he say it is possible that he will declare something like when testifying in a court (spoken in a certain way this sentence may suggest a sort of threat or blackmail).
  3. Or does the statement imply that John Doe has finally got the permission to speak after being forbidden to do so for a certain time?

    So here, all these readings are acceptable and valid as far as there are no further precisions or practical information added to dissipate the ambiguity.

  4. Suppose John Doe chooses to add “now” to his statement, suddenly most of the suppositions above collapse at once.
            The question persists. Suppose that “can”, without assistance from accentuation, intonation, explanation or else, is used in a separate statement. How can we make sure we have really understood the message? Can we be sure if it is making allusion to ability, possibility, prohibition, impossibility inability, complaint, request, suggesting, asking for and giving permission, giving instructions, showing determination or else? The answer is: "We simply can't."

            Now! Can we shout victory we have at last tamed this wayward modal auxiliary verb? I guess not, yet. It is still very early for that now. There is much work to do to be able to unveil all the secrets of this powerful mysterious diffident modal, "can".

F. Here is an exercise which seems difficult and has to be done. What am I saying when I tell you…

                        "You can do it"

  1. You are able to do it.
  2. You know how to do it
  3. You are allowed to do it. You have permission.
  4. I encourage you to do it. So, go on!
  5. It is possible that you can do it if we have enough time for that.
  6. All of the above.
G. Before I close, I'd prefer to leave you with this medley of statements to examine and try to see if we have exhaustively studied this modal verb "can". I'll let you deepen and intensify the research to check how far this modal verb can go with its influence on our speech. Here, you’ll encounter other functions that “Can” would never miss for anything in the world of interpersonal communication, like declining to give an advice, showing contempt, expressing impossibility, expressing fear, lack of certitude and so on.

Conclusion

           Undoubtedly our microscope has exerted a great effort to zoom and to bring close enough the maximum of details in the body of linguistic constructions wherein the multi-functional modal verb "can" is the pivot. The most surprising thing about “can”, all the same, is the incredible fact that it is the most frequently used word in our daily discourse. You will be surprised, maybe, to know that most of the examples provided in this paper are either song titles or verses in songs. This, by itself, is an incontestable solid proof that “can” is not to be underestimated as it has the power to render communication stiff without it. It is ubiquitous and we must admit it. I can prove it once more through this assortment of quotes.

*/ "I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do."
Helen Keller

"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need."
Kahlil Gibran

*/ "If you can dream it, you can do it".
Walt Disney

*/ "I don't mind living in a man's world as long as I can be a woman in it".
Marilyn Monroe

*/ "The most I can do for my friend is simply be his friend."
Henry David Thoreau

*/ "I can live without money, but I cannot live without love".
Judy Garland

*/ "Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve."
Martin Luther King, Jr.

*/ "If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right".
Henry Ford

*/ "Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can."
John Wesley

*/ "I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying".
Michael Jordan

*/ "It is one of the beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely help another without helping himself."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

            I hope the employed microscope lenses were diaphanous and sharp enough to magnify and disclose some of the secret marvels of this tiny little three-letter-word, "can" ./.


Bibliography

  1. Joan Bybee & Suzanne Fleischman, Modality in Grammar and discourse p. 2
  2. Shakespeare, William : King Lear - [ Cordelia - Act I, sc. 1 ] - p. 2
  3. Shakespeare, William: King Lear - (New Revised Edition) Signet Classic 1987.
  4. I, Robot, 2004, 115 mns 20th Century Fox studio American movie, directed by Alex Proyas,
  5. Wikiquote, I, Robot, [http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/I,_Robot_(film)#Dialogue]
  6. S. Winter & P. Gärdenfors, Linguistic Modality as expressions of social power
  7. Palmer, F. R., Mood and Modality, Cambridge Univ. Press, 1986 (2nd edition 2001).
  8. Andrew Salter, Conditioned Reflex Therapy p:58
  9. Günter Radden and René Dirven, Cognitive English Grammar. John Benjamins, 2007
  10. Bybee, J. L., Modality in Grammar and Discourse, John Benjamins publishing company.
  11. Singh, M.P Quote Unquote A handbook of famous quotations, Lotus Press, New Delhi 2006
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