Sentence pattern · Band 1
能 and 可以: can, because it is possible or allowed
主语 + 能/可以 + 动词
能 and 可以 are the other cans. 能 points at circumstances: the door is open, he is free tonight, so it can happen. 可以 is often permission: the sign says yes, mom says yes. A skill you learned takes 会 instead; a green light takes these two. For asking nicely, 可以 is the polite one, as in may I sit here.
Hear it in a sentence
Mistakes people make
会 marks a learned skill; asking whether something is allowed takes 可以.
Words in this pattern
Quick answers
What does 能、可以 mean?
能 and 可以 are the other cans. 能 points at circumstances: the door is open, he is free tonight, so it can happen. 可以 is often permission: the sign says yes, mom says yes. A skill you learned takes 会 instead; a green light takes these two. For asking nicely, 可以 is the polite one, as in may I sit here.
How do you build it?
主语 + 能/可以 + 动词
What is the most common mistake?
我会坐这儿吗？ → 我可以坐这儿吗？
会 marks a learned skill; asking whether something is allowed takes 可以.
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