Can not

JuanTwoThree · Post by **JuanTwoThree** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 3:28 pm

What do we make of:

"I can do it tomorrow or I can not do it tomorrow"

Can "can not" ever be used or can it not? Presumably we must allow:

I can not only speak French but ....."

Stephen Jones · Post by **Stephen Jones** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 3:37 pm

can not do = can + not do

cannot do = cannot + do

JuanTwoThree · Post by **JuanTwoThree** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 3:43 pm

Lunch was too good.

There's clearly a difference between:

I can do it tomorrow or I can not do it tomorrow.

and

I can do it tomorrow or I cannot do it tomorrow.

jotham · Post by **jotham** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 8:33 am

I think you might need the tone of voice to help. Italics can relay this:
I can do it tomorrow, or I can not do it tomorrow.

JuanTwoThree · Post by **JuanTwoThree** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 9:52 am

True, but if you read:

I can do it tomorrow or I can not do it tomorrow.

to yourself, the "not" pretty much comes out emphasised of its own accord. If you read it emphasing "can" then it sounds like "cannot", so either the reading or the separated "can not" are wrong.