Cannot vs Can't vs Unable

Quando usar cada um em inglês, com significado, registro e exemplos.

Cannot

Top 1000 (muito comum)A1

Can't

Top 1000 (muito comum)

Unable

Top 2000 (comum)B1adjective
 CannotCan'tUnable
Pronúncia🇬🇧 /["/ˈkænɒt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkænɑːt/"]/🇬🇧 //kɑːnt//🇺🇸 //kænt//🇬🇧 /["/ʌnˈeɪbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ʌnˈeɪbl/"]/
Significadoto be unable to do somethingCannot; not able to do something.not able to do something
ExemploI cannot believe the price of the tickets!I can't attend the meeting tomorrow.I was unable to attend the meeting due to a family emergency.
RegistroNeutroNeutroNeutro
Quão comumTop 1000 (muito comum)Top 1000 (muito comum)Top 2000 (comum)
Nível CEFRA1-B1
Classe gramaticaladjective
Colocaçõescannot believe, cannot wait, cannot affordcan't help, can't wait, can't believeappear, be, feel, completely, quite, totally, unwilling or unable
Antônimoscan, ablecan, ableable, capable
Erros comunsConfused with 'can not' — it's always one word in negative form., Using 'cannot' in too formal a context — prefer 'can't' in casual speech., Incorrectly using 'cannot' in past tense situations.Confused with 'can' - remember 'can't' means unable., Omitting the apostrophe - always write 'can't', not 'cant'.Confused with 'unable to' and 'not able to' — they mean the same but usage can vary., Using 'unable' without a following action verb., Misplacing adjectives — remember 'unable' always describes capability.
Notas de usoUse 'cannot' in any situation where something is impossible. Avoid using it in informal contexts where 'can't' is more common.Use in informal spoken or written contexts. It's considered casual and may not be appropriate for formal writing.Use 'unable' in situations where someone or something lacks the ability to perform an action. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but avoid in very casual conversations.

Perguntas frequentes: Cannot vs Can't vs Unable

Qual é a diferença entre Cannot, Can't e Unable?

Cannot: to be unable to do something Can't: Cannot; not able to do something. Unable: not able to do something

Qual é mais avançada: Cannot, Can't e Unable?

Unable é o nível mais alto, em B1, na escala CEFR.

Pode mostrar um exemplo de cada?

Cannot: I cannot believe the price of the tickets! Can't: I can't attend the meeting tomorrow. Unable: I was unable to attend the meeting due to a family emergency.

Posso usar Cannot, Can't e Unable de forma intercambiável?

Nem sempre. Cannot, Can't e Unable são relacionadas e às vezes se sobrepõem, mas diferem em registro, frequência e uso, então trocar uma pela outra pode mudar o sentido ou o tom. Veja as diferenças acima antes de substituir.

Comparações relacionadas