cannot dance

[keannu]

What is the difference between "cannot" and "can't"? I think "cannot" is more emphasizing than "can't" as it is more loosened.

gzg54-a3
ex)I can dance very well, but she cannot(can't) dance very well.

 

[Rover_KE]

See these similar threads, which I found by putting can not/cannot in the Google Custom Search box at the top of the page.

Rover

 

[Tdol]

You wouldn't use can't in a formal text.

 

[keannu]

I didn't mean cannot/can not, which are about "inability vs refraining", but cannot/can't, and as you said "can't" is informal while "cannot" is formal, but the two mean the same thing of "inability". If I am wrong, please let me know.

 

[5jj]

Can't is simply the contracted form of cannot. They both mean exactly the same thing. As Tdol said, you would not use can't in a formal text.

 

[Tdol]

I think "cannot" is more emphasizing than "can't" as it is more loosened.

I don't think this is greatly the case- you can't use can't in some contexts, but where there is a choice, there isn't much difference.

 

[david11]

you can't use cannot in some contexts,

Really? Could you please throw some light on that.

 

[Tdol]

Really? Could you please throw some light on that.

Typing error. :up: