Distinguishing Can and Can Not in Spoken American English

Teacher: Welcome to daily tips on learning English. Today's tip is on distinguishing can and can not in spoken American English.

Teacher: Can not is usually contracted to can't. So, many learners of English assume that in order to distinguish between can and can't, one must listen for the final T sound t and when speaking one must pronounce the final T sound t clearly. However, this is not in fact how native speakers distinguish can and can't.

Teacher: People do not say I can drive a car, but I can't drive a motorcycle. People say I can drive a car, but I can't drive a motorcycle. The difference between can and can't is in stress. Can is not stressed, the verb after it is. Can't is stressed, the verb after it is not.

Teacher: Also, since can is not stressed, the vowel is reduced to E so can is actually pronounced can.

Teacher: Listen to another example. I can't go on Saturday, but I can go on Sunday. Did you hear the T sound? Did you notice the different words being stressed? Listen again, I can't go on Saturday, but I can go on Sunday.

Teacher: If you want to understand whether someone is saying he can or can not do something, you have to be listening for a stressed can't or a verb stressed after can.

Teacher: What does this mean? I can speak Japanese, but I can't speak Taiwanese. That is right. I can speak Japanese, but I can not speak Taiwanese.

Teacher: When you are speaking, it is very important that you follow this rule too. When learners of English say I can help you, native speakers often aren't sure what is meant because of improper stress.

Teacher: So, remember you can stress can't, but you can't stress can.

Teacher: This's been today's tip on learning English. Tune in tomorrow for another tip.