CAN (focus) – English Grammar Profiler

Fixed expressions are groups of words used together to express a particular idea or concept that is more specific than the individual words. They usually have literal meanings and do not change their word order or pattern. Here are some explanations for fixed expressions with the modal verb ‘can’ :

• As you can see: This expression is used to draw attention to something that is visible or obvious to the listener or reader. For example, “As you can see, the graph shows a steady increase in sales.”
• I can’t say: This expression is used to indicate that the speaker does not know the answer or does not want to reveal something. For example, “I can’t say when he will arrive. He didn’t tell me.”
• I can tell you that: This expression is used to emphasize that the speaker is about to share some information or opinion. For example, “I can tell you that this cake is delicious. You should try it.”
• As you can imagine: This expression is used to show sympathy or understanding for the listener’s situation or feelings. For example, “As you can imagine, she was very upset when she heard the news.”
• I can say that: This expression is used to express certainty or confidence about something. For example, “I can say that this project will be completed on time. We have everything under control.”
• I can assure you that: This expression is used to make a strong promise or guarantee about something. For example, “I can assure you that your money is safe with us. We have a secure system.”

In the English Grammar Profile, C1 point 186 in MODALITY is defined as:

 Expressions with ‘can’ or ‘can’t’ to give focus or add emphasis, such as ‘as you can see’, ‘I can’t say’, ‘I can tell you that’, ‘as you can imagine’, ‘I can say that’, ‘I can assure you that’

For example:

I can’t say I didn’t enjoy some of it.

listen

Here are iWeb clusters:

1 I CAN’T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS 1590

  WBUR 5 Shows You Should Be Watching That Center The Millennial Experience I can’t say enough good things about this bilingual show. It definitely has its funny moments, but the plot delves into some serious topics, like …

2 I CAN’T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE 733 3 I CAN’T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT HOW 534 4 I CAN’T SAY FOR SURE. 450 5 I CAN’T SAY I ‘VE EVER 369 6 I CAN’T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THIS 326 7 I CAN’T SAY FOR SURE, 325 8 I CAN’T SAY THE SAME FOR 323 9 I CAN’T SAY THAT I’VE 321 10 I CAN’T SAY ENOUGH GREAT THINGS 254 11 I CAN’T SAY THAT I HAVE 252 12 I CAN’T SAY THAT I’M 237 13 I CAN’T SAY FOR SURE IF 225 14 I CAN’T SAY FOR SURE THAT 189 15 I CAN’T SAY ENOUGH GOOD ABOUT 187 16 I CAN’T SAY I’M SURPRISED 159 17 I CAN’T SAY I’M A 140 18 I CAN’T SAY FOR SURE WHAT 126 19 I CAN’T SAY THE SAME ABOUT 125

20 I CAN’T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT IT 122

1 AS YOU CAN SEE , THERE IS A 641

2 AS YOU CAN SEE , THERE ARE MANY 600 3 AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE VIDEO , 408 4 AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE IMAGE BELOW 401 5 AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE IMAGE ABOVE 376 6 AS YOU CAN SEE , THERE ARE A 373 7 AS YOU CAN SEE , THIS IS A 363 8 AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURE , 351 9 AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE CHART BELOW 317 10 AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURE BELOW 306 11 AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURE ABOVE 305 12 AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE VIDEO BELOW 298 13 AS YOU CAN SEE , THERE IS NO 293 14 AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PICTURES , 291 15 AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PHOTOS , 270 16 AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PICTURE , 267 17 AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PHOTO ABOVE 267 18 AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE CHART BELOW 255 19 AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE IMAGE ABOVE 254

20 AS YOU CAN SEE , THERE ‘S A 252

1 AS YOU CAN IMAGINE , THIS IS A 137

2 AS YOU CAN IMAGINE , IT WAS A 61

3 AS YOU CAN IMAGINE , THERE IS A 52 4 AS YOU CAN IMAGINE , THERE ARE A 50 5 AS YOU CAN IMAGINE , A LOT OF 47 6 AS YOU CAN IMAGINE , THIS IS NOT 47 7 AS YOU CAN IMAGINE , IT ‘S A 40 8 AS YOU CAN IMAGINE , THIS CAN BE 40 9 AS YOU CAN IMAGINE , THERE ARE MANY 31 10 AS YOU CAN IMAGINE , THERE WAS A 31 11 AS YOU CAN IMAGINE , IT IS A 28 12 AS YOU CAN IMAGINE , IT ‘S NOT 26 13 AS YOU CAN IMAGINE , THERE ‘S A 26 14 AS YOU CAN IMAGINE , THIS WAS A 26 15 AS YOU CAN IMAGINE , THIS IS AN 25 16 AS YOU CAN IMAGINE , THIS IS VERY 23 17 AS YOU CAN IMAGINE , IT ‘S BEEN 22 18 AS YOU CAN IMAGINE , I WAS VERY 21 19 AS YOU CAN IMAGINE , IT CAN BE 19

20 AS YOU CAN IMAGINE , THIS KIND OF 19

1 I CAN TELL YOU THAT . ” 98

2 I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT IS A 80

  New York Daily News Katy Perry and other celebs defend Ellen DeGeneres “I have been very lucky to be on that show many times and I can tell you that it is a very well run machine, everyone was super nice, not just to …

3 I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE IS NO 74 4 I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE IS A 64 5 I CAN TELL YOU THAT A LOT OF 62 6 I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS IS A 57 7 I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT IS NOT 49 8 I CAN TELL YOU THAT MOST OF THE 48 9 I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT ‘S A 46 10 I CAN TELL YOU THAT ONE OF THE 46 11 I CAN TELL YOU THAT I DO N’T 41 12 I CAN TELL YOU THAT I HAVE BEEN 37 13 I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT ‘S NOT 37 14 I CAN TELL YOU THAT I HAVE NEVER 36 15 I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT WILL BE 34 16 I CAN TELL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW . 33 17 I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE ARE A 33 18 I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS IS NOT 33 19 I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT IS VERY 32

20 I CAN TELL YOU THAT SOME OF THE 30

1 I CAN SAY THAT HAS N’T ALREADY BEEN 26 (this might not meet the criteria)

  Goldenplec Music News Colin Bolger – Under The Influence | Feature There’s not much I can say that hasn’t already been said about Thin Lizzy. A band that transcended so many boundaries and paved the way for …

2 I CAN SAY THAT THIS IS THE BEST 24

3 I CAN SAY THAT THIS IS ONE OF 19 4 I CAN SAY THAT I AM VERY HAPPY 17 5 I CAN SAY THAT I HAVE NEVER SEEN 15 6 I CAN SAY THAT I AM HAPPY WITH 14 7 I CAN SAY THAT IT IS ONE OF 14 8 I CAN SAY THAT IT HAS BEEN A 13 9 I CAN SAY THAT IT WAS ONE OF 13 10 I CAN SAY THAT THERE ARE A LOT 13 11 I CAN SAY THAT THIS IS THE MOST 13 12 I CAN SAY THAT HAS N’T BEEN SAID 12 13 I CAN SAY THAT I DO N’T HAVE 12 14 I CAN SAY THAT I HAVE NEVER BEEN 12 15 I CAN SAY THAT IT IS A GREAT 12 16 I CAN SAY THAT I AM SATISFIED WITH 11 17 I CAN SAY THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF 11 18 I CAN SAY THAT THIS IS A VERY 11 19 I CAN SAY THAT I AM A VERY 10

20 I CAN SAY THAT I AM IN LOVE 10

1 I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THIS IS NOT 58

  Richmondshire Today Headteacher issues warning over bogus salesman The head said: “I can assure you that this is not the case. “We are not affiliated with any ‘tutoring’ schemes and is definitely a scam that has …

2 I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT IT IS NOT 52 3 I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT YOU WILL BE 46 4 I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT IT WILL BE 43 5 I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THERE IS NO 41 6 I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I AM NOT 34 7 I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT YOU WILL NOT 32 8 I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I DO N’T 24 9 I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT YOU WO N’T 22 10 I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT IF YOU ARE 21 11 I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THIS IS A 21 12 I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I ‘M NOT 20 13 I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT IS NOT THE 20 14 I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT IT IS A 20 15 I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I WILL BE 19 16 I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT YOU WILL HAVE 18 17 I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT YOU ARE NOT 16 18 I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT IT ‘S NOT 15 19 I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THERE IS NOTHING 15

20 I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THERE WILL BE 15