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Both cannot and can not are acceptable spellings, but the first is far more common and
is therefore recommended, especially in any kind of formal writing.
 I cannot predict what will happen next year. ( )
 I can not predict what will happen next year.
CANNOT (formal) CAN NOT
In question form when the auxiliary is not
contracted, "not" comes after the inverted
subject; therefore, "cannot" doesn't work
there:
 Can you not see that I’m busy?
 Can’t you see that I’m busy?
NOT ✗Cannot you see that I’m busy?
 Can he not see the obvious?
 Can’t he see the obvious?
NOT ✗Cannot he see the obvious?
We can use can not when the "not" form is
part of another construction such as "not
only." For example:
 These green industries can not only
create more jobs, but also promote
sustainable development of the land.
We can also use can not when we want to
be emphatic
 “No, you can not borrow my car.”
CANNOT BUT (formal) CAN’T (informal)
used to say that sth will certainly happen, or
that you feel you have to do sth.
 If we persevere, we cannot but succeed.
 One cannot but admire her
determination.
Can’t is simply a contraction of cannot, and
therefore not always suitable for formal
writing. It is often found in everyday
speaking and writing:
 I can't go out tonight. I'm busy.
 You can't park here.
CAN YOU NOT
We can use “can you not “ to make requests and to ask questions. The exact same question
can have a different meaning depending on where the stress is placed.
REQUEST (stress on not) QUESTION (stress on can)
Can you not play the guitar?
(Negative request- Please, do not play the guitar)
Can you not do that?
(Negative request- Can you refrain from doing that?)
Can you not play the guitar?
(Negative ability- I thought you could play the guitar
and I’m surprised you can’t.)
Can you not do that?
(Negative ability - Aren't you able to do that?
Cambridge English exams - Contractions.
In the key word transformation task (use of English part 4) , contracted forms (isn’t, I’m,
I’ll, didn’t, etc.) count as two words.The only exception is can’t, which counts as one word,
since it is the contracted form of one word : cannot.
CANNOT
CAN NOT?

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cannot vs can not.pdf

  • 1. Both cannot and can not are acceptable spellings, but the first is far more common and is therefore recommended, especially in any kind of formal writing.  I cannot predict what will happen next year. ( )  I can not predict what will happen next year. CANNOT (formal) CAN NOT In question form when the auxiliary is not contracted, "not" comes after the inverted subject; therefore, "cannot" doesn't work there:  Can you not see that I’m busy?  Can’t you see that I’m busy? NOT ✗Cannot you see that I’m busy?  Can he not see the obvious?  Can’t he see the obvious? NOT ✗Cannot he see the obvious? We can use can not when the "not" form is part of another construction such as "not only." For example:  These green industries can not only create more jobs, but also promote sustainable development of the land. We can also use can not when we want to be emphatic  “No, you can not borrow my car.” CANNOT BUT (formal) CAN’T (informal) used to say that sth will certainly happen, or that you feel you have to do sth.  If we persevere, we cannot but succeed.  One cannot but admire her determination. Can’t is simply a contraction of cannot, and therefore not always suitable for formal writing. It is often found in everyday speaking and writing:  I can't go out tonight. I'm busy.  You can't park here. CAN YOU NOT We can use “can you not “ to make requests and to ask questions. The exact same question can have a different meaning depending on where the stress is placed. REQUEST (stress on not) QUESTION (stress on can) Can you not play the guitar? (Negative request- Please, do not play the guitar) Can you not do that? (Negative request- Can you refrain from doing that?) Can you not play the guitar? (Negative ability- I thought you could play the guitar and I’m surprised you can’t.) Can you not do that? (Negative ability - Aren't you able to do that? Cambridge English exams - Contractions. In the key word transformation task (use of English part 4) , contracted forms (isn’t, I’m, I’ll, didn’t, etc.) count as two words.The only exception is can’t, which counts as one word, since it is the contracted form of one word : cannot. CANNOT CAN NOT?