[Grammar] Cannot vs Can not?

[EngFan]

Hi All,

Any difference between "cannot" and "can not"?


Regards,

EngFan

 

[emsr2d2]

We very rarely use "can" followed by "not" as a separate word. You might hear something like "You can go or you can not go. It's your choice" but "can" + "not go" is different from "cannot" + "go".

 

[Rover_KE]

Click HERE to read earlier threads on the same subject.

I found this page by putting your excellent thread title into the Google custom search box at the very top of the page.

Rover

 

[BobK]

Hi All,

Any difference between "cannot" and "can not"?


Regards,

EngFan

I suspect what triggered this question was a recent thread in this forum, based on a quotation from Emma, which used the words 'can not'. Today they're normally agglutinated, as others have said. As Ems showed, the two parts of the word can sometimes be separated to mark a contrast.

b

 

[TheParser]

NOT A TEACHER

He cannot speak Chinese.

He can not only speak Chinese but he can also write it!

 

[Barb_D]

And hey, I learned a new word today: agglutinated

 

[5jj]

And hey, I learned a new word today: agglutinated

I simply can't understand how you managed without it. I can't begin my day without caffeine, nicotine and agglutination.

 

[BobK]

I simply can't understand how you managed without it. I can't begin my day without caffeine, nicotine and agglutination.

A new colleague once asked me 'What's wrong - swallowed a dictionary, have you?' (I have to admit to being lexicophagous sometimes. ;-)) Note: that's not a real word, Barb!

b

 

[Barb_D]

Better a lexicophagous than a lexicosaurus. Unless you like basking in the sun.

And do people with Celiac's have to stay away from agglutinated words?

 

[5jj]

It's a little known fact that 87.5% of gluts are not sticky.

The logical deduction is, therefore, that a glut in eight is sticky.


My hat's on.

 

[charliedeut]

It's a little know fact that 87.5% of gluts are not sticky.

The logical deduction is, therefore, that a glut in eight is sticky.


My hat's on.

Talking of "sticky": sticky - WordReference.com Dictionary of English #5. I ignore whether it's a little known meaning for the word. I for one had no idea. But it fits in really well for UE! :roll: ;-) :up::up::up:

charliedeut

PS: I don't get this "My hat's on" thingy.

 

[5jj]

"I'll get my hat" suggests that the speaker is on the point of departing. When Rover makes one of his excruciating puns or appallingly unfunny jokes, he signs off with those words, knowing that he will be thrown out if he does not leave of his own accord.

Sensing that there may be one or two ignorami in this forum who might not appreciate the glory of my post #10, I announced that I was even closer to the point of departure.

 

[tzfujimino]

"I'll get my hat" suggests that the speaker is on the point of departing. When Rover makes one of his excruciating puns or appallingly unfunny jokes, he signs off with those words, knowing that he will be thrown out if he does not leave of his own accord.

Sensing that there may be one or two ignorami in this forum who might not appreciate the glory of my post #10, I announced that I was even closer to the point of departure.

Well, I had made some effort to understand you. hat - Idioms - by the Free Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.
:-D

 

[5jj]

Well, I had made some effort to understand you. hat - Idioms - by the Free Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

It's not really an idiom. It's more a slight extension of the basic idea of the expression. One could just as easily say, "I'm off now" or "Time for me to go".

 

[~Mav~]

When Rover makes one of his excruciating puns or appallingly unfunny jokes, he signs off with those words, knowing that he will be thrown out if he does not leave of his own accord.

Rover? :shock: Did you mean Bob? ;-) (I should add that I find his posts erudite and fascinating. :up: )



PS: This lesser being had better leave now. ;-)

PPS: Especially that I'm not sure I entirely get your post #10. I am NOT questioning its glory, of course! ;-)

 

[SoothingDave]

He was making a beautifully geeky math joke. 12.5 % is 1 in 8, or 1/8.

 

[tzfujimino]

He was making a beautifully geeky math joke. 12.5 % is 1 in 8, or 1/8.

Thank you! Now I understand that part.:-D

%: one stick in 8 - one in 8 is sticky. (if I understand it correctly)
I couldn't take it as a joke. I have to learn English harder.

 

[5jj]

%: one stick in 8 - one in 8 is sticky. (if I understand it correctly)
I couldn't take it as a joke. I have to learn English harder.

a glut in eight (one glut in eight) sounds the same as 'agglutinate'. It's a pun. 'agglutinate' = stick together, as with glue.


I've gone.

 

[~Mav~]

a glut in eight (one glut in eight) sounds the same as 'agglutinate'. It's a pun. 'agglutinate' = stick together, as with glue.

Just to be on-topic, after this explanation, I cannot not like your post #10. :-D

 

[5jj]

I cannot not like your post #10. :-D

:up:

A very good example to compare with TheParser's "Can not" in post #5.

It's also a good example of a double negative not equalling an affirmative; Mav's 'cannot not' does not convey the same message as 'can'.