What does you can't even mean?

Answer 1

The word "can't" is a contraction of the two words "can" and "not", which are typically combined to form the single word "cannot". The apostrophe indicates that we have removed one or more letters in the contraction. In this case the 'n' and the 'o' of "not" have both been removed. Since they are removed, we do not pronounce them, thus "can't" is pronounced exactly as we would pronounce the word "rant".

While we do use the word "can't" in everyday speech, it would not be considered correct to use a contraction in writing unless it were used within a quote. In fact, many people still detest the use of contraction's within speech. However, they are part of the language; so no-one can tell you that you can't use them. In other words, no-one can tell you that you cannot use them.

Note that contractions typically contract the words "not" and "have", but can also contract "is", "has" and "are". For instance, the following are all acceptable contractions that we use in everyday speech:

• Aren't (are not)
• Can't (cannot)
• Couldn't (could not)
• Could've (could have)
• Daren't (dare not)
• Didn't (did not)
• Don't (do not)
• Hasn't (has not)
• Haven't (have not)
• Isn't (is not)
• It's (it is or it has) [see notes below]
• I'd (I would)
• I'll (I will or I shall)
• I've (I have)
• Shan't (shall not)
• Shouldn't (should not)
• Should've (should have)
• Wasn't (was not)
• Weren't (were not)
• We'll (we will or we shall)
• We're (we are) [see notes below]
• We've (we have)
• Who'll (who will or who shall)
• Who're (who are)
• Who's (who is)
• Who've (who have)
• Won't (will not)
• Wouldn't (would not)
• Would've (would have)
• You'd (you had)
• You'll (you will)
• You're (you are) [see notes below]
• You've (you have)

Note that while "will not" should really contract to "willn't", the contraction "won't" probably began as a shorter version of "wouldn't". The two are interchangeable but "won't" typically means "will not" nowadays. Although "willn't" is no longer used today, Scots slang still uses the similar word, "willnae", to mean "will not".

Some contractions can also be combined into a multiple contraction. This type of contraction predominantly combines the words "not" and "have". For instance:

• Couldn't've (could not have)
• Shouldn't've (should not have)
• Wouldn't've (would not have)

Some other multiple contractions include:

• I'd've (I would have)
• 'tisn't (it is not)
• 'twasn't (it was not)
• We'd've (we would have)
• You'd've (you would have)

NOTESIts and It'sIn written form, many people confuse the word "its" with the contraction "it's" since they are pronounced exactly the same. However, the contraction "it's" has two specific meanings depending on the context:

"It'sa good example" means "it isa good example".

"It'sbeen a wonderful day" means "it hasbeen a wonderful day".

Thus if you mean "it is" or "it has" then you use "it's", otherwise you use "its". The word "its" is actually used to indicate indefinite ownership. While it is correct to say "Fido's hair is wet" to indicate the hair belonging to a dog named Fido (the definite article), it would be incorrect to say "it's hair is wet" if we did not know the dog's name was Fido (the indefinite article). The correct phrase in this case would be "its hair is wet".

Note that while "it's" can sometimes be used to mean "it was", the correct contraction for this is "'twas" (note the leading apostrophe).

Were and We're

"Were" and "we're" are pronounced differently. "Were" is pronounced the same as "per", whereas "we're" is pronounced as in "fear". Despite this, some people still get them mixed up in written form. The contraction "we're" should only be used whenever you mean "we are" (present tense) while "were" should only be used as the past tense of "are", as in "where were you earlier" versus "where are you now".

Your and You'reIn written form, many people often confuse "your" with the contraction "you're" since they are both pronounced exactly the same. However, the contraction "you're" should only be used when you mean "you are". "You're" should never be used to mean "you were". "Your" should only be used to show possession, as in "your house".