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Is "can" (as in "I can") a verb [chars.]?
We say "I can run quickly" or "I can get that for you" (where "run" and "get" are verbs) but we also say "I can" as a sentence unto itself (usually as a response). So, is "can" a verb, or is "I can" a grammatically incomplete sentence?
4 Answers
- ?Lv 59 years agoFavorite Answer
"can" is not a "principal" verb. It is a "modal" verb.
I can.
"can" is a "modal" verb which is working as a verb.
I can read.
"can" is a modal verb which is working as an auxiliary verb to complete the meaning of the main verb "read".
Modal verbs- shall, should,will,would,can,could,may,might,need,dare,ought.
- Joan DLv 49 years ago
"I can." is a sentence. "can" is a verb in that sentence. The rest of the idea is completed by the understood information in the context of the discussion.
- Anonymous9 years ago
its still an adverb because you can,buy something ,kiss someone but you cant can someone(in this word meanin) 'i can' is either a grammatically unfinshed sentence or an answer to a question,whether one thts been spoken or one that is unspoken
- Anonymous9 years ago
"Can" is a verb that means "to be able".
If "I am able" is a sentence, then "I can" is also a sentence.
