Beginner 📐 Grammar · #215 of 305

Can for Permission

Use can to ask or give permission.

Examples

  • Can I sit here?
  • You can use my phone.

Key rules

  • Can asks for and gives permission: Can I open the window?
  • Could and May are more polite (May I come in?)
  • Answer: Yes, you can. / No, you can't.
  • Can is followed by the base verb without to

Common mistakes

  • Can I to sit here? → Can I sit here?
  • Can I borrowing your pen? → Can I borrow your pen?
💡 Tip: Use Could I for strangers and Can I for friends.
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Related Beginner topics

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Nouns: Naming Words

A noun names a person, place, thing or idea.

Singular and Plural Nouns

Add -s to most nouns; add -es after s, x, ch, sh.

Irregular Plurals

Some nouns change form instead of adding -s.

Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Countable nouns can be counted; uncountable ones cannot take a/an or plural.

Proper and Common Nouns

Proper nouns name specific things and start with a capital letter.

Subject Pronouns

I, you, he, she, it, we, they replace the subject.