What is the Difference Between 'Cannot' and 'can Not'?為什么“不能”？
The main difference between “cannot” and “can not” is that the first term deals with impossibility and the second handles choice.
“cannot”與“can not”主要的區(qū)別在于前者適用于處理不可能概率事件，后者適用于處理關(guān)于一件事情的選擇。
The two-word version also is more common when a person wants to add emphasis on something, or when he wants to stress that someone has more than one skill.
當(dāng)一個(gè)人想要強(qiáng)調(diào)某些事情，或是強(qiáng)調(diào)某人不止有一種本事的時(shí)候，“cannot”這種雙詞復(fù)合的形式在使用時(shí)就更加普遍了。
Mistakes about how to use them properly means that they are virtually interchangeable in regular speech, however.
然而，在日常使用中，這兩個(gè)詞幾乎是互換的。這就是如何正確使用它們的問(wèn)題所在了。
Impossibility vs. Choice
關(guān)于不可能性和選擇
One of the most common explanations for the difference between “cannot” and “can not” is that, with the former word, there is no chance someone can carry out an activity, no matter how much he might want to do so.
“cannot”和“can’t”最大區(qū)別之一是，在運(yùn)用前者時(shí)，其情景表明某人無(wú)論多么想做一件事，他是沒(méi)有任何一點(diǎn)機(jī)會(huì)去開(kāi)始著手做這件事的。
Cannot
The following sentences both are based on this concept of impossibility:
Jane cannot jump 50 feet in the air.We cannot go to Pluto.
下面的句子是基于cannot的不可能性概念：
1、簡(jiǎn)不可能在空中起跳到50英尺。
2、我們?nèi)ゲ涣粟ね跣恰?/p>
In these examples, “cannot” essentially means “l(fā)acks the ability to.'
在這些例子中，“cannot”本質(zhì)上的含義是“做某事缺乏某種能力”。
In the first instance, for example, the way the human body is made and functions always will keep Jane from reaching the extreme height, regardless of her fitness level.
第一個(gè)例句中，無(wú)論簡(jiǎn)的身體狀況如何，但是人的身體構(gòu)造和功能都無(wú)法使她達(dá)到所說(shuō)的極限高度。
The second sentence is true because currently, scientists do not have all the knowledge or technology that a mission to Pluto would require.
第二個(gè)句子所描述的在目前是真實(shí)的狀態(tài)，現(xiàn)在的科學(xué)家們并沒(méi)有足夠的知識(shí)和科技能讓去冥王星的愿望達(dá)成。
By contrast, when a person uses “cannot,” the ability to do the action still exists.
通過(guò)對(duì)比我們得知，當(dāng)一個(gè)人使用“cannot”來(lái)表達(dá)時(shí)，這表明他的行為能力是仍然存在的。
We analyse another two sentences again.
我們?cè)賮?lái)分析兩個(gè)句子。
Yuri can not study anymore.Sam can not have a drink.
尤里不會(huì)再學(xué)習(xí)了。
山姆不喝飲料。
For both these cases, “can not” translates to “is not going to” or “is opting not to.” In other words, the subject has a choice. Yuri can study, for example, or he can go do something else. Sam can consume a beverage, or he can leave it be.
以上兩個(gè)例子，“cannot”都譯為“不打算去做”或者是“選擇不這么做”。換句話說(shuō)，在這兩句話中，主語(yǔ)都有可選擇的能力。尤里可以學(xué)習(xí)但是他也可以選擇做其他事情。山姆也可以選擇喝或不喝。
Can’t
Typically, a contraction represents the joining of more than one word, usually as a way to make speech shorter and more efficient.
形式上講，這種縮寫(xiě)形式通常代表了不止一個(gè)詞的銜接，它們可以使話語(yǔ)變得更短和更有效。
Contractions also can eliminate syllables within words, however, sometimes for a poetic purpose, such as sticking to a particular meter.
縮寫(xiě)形式也可以起到在詞中消除音節(jié)的作用，在詩(shī)歌中，有時(shí)是為了一個(gè)塑造詩(shī)型的目的，比如塑造一種特定的結(jié)構(gòu)形式。
A good example is “e’er,” a shortened form of “ever” pronounced like the words “air” or “heir.” Most experts say that the contraction “can’t” functions in this way and, therefore, is a shortened version of “cannot” rather than a joining of “can” and “not.”
一個(gè)很好的例子就是“ever”的縮寫(xiě)“e’er”，它的發(fā)音類(lèi)似于“air”（空氣）或者“heir”（后嗣）。很多專(zhuān)家都表明“can’t”的功能是“cannot”的縮寫(xiě)，而不是“can”和“not”的機(jī)械銜接。
With the contraction representing “cannot,” technically, someone only should use it when they really mean that the subject of their sentence does not have the ability to do something.
從技術(shù)上講，某些人表達(dá)的句子中的主語(yǔ)是真的沒(méi)有能力做某些事，才要用“cannot”的縮寫(xiě)形式。
In common speech, however, people frequently use it incorrectly. A person might say, 'I can't cook tonight,' for example.
然而，在日常使用中，人們對(duì)于錯(cuò)誤的表達(dá)總是習(xí)以為常。例如一個(gè)人會(huì)說(shuō)：“我今晚不做飯。”
Emphasis
關(guān)于強(qiáng)調(diào)作用
The word “cannot” rarely needs to receive emphasis because the meaning is not ambiguous — it always means that it isn’t possible for the subject to complete the action.
“cannot”一詞幾乎不需要強(qiáng)調(diào)，因?yàn)槠湟饬x并不含糊。因?yàn)樗?jīng)常用于表達(dá)句子中的主語(yǔ)根本不可能完成這一項(xiàng)行動(dòng)。
The phrase “can not,” however, deals with options, and people can stress what they want to happen or are going to pick.
然而短語(yǔ)“can not”是用于處理選擇的，人們用“can not”來(lái)強(qiáng)調(diào)他們想要發(fā)生什么或者是選擇什么。
A father upset about his daughter’s short skirt, for instance, might say, “You can not wear that out of this house, young lady!” He essentially would be stressing that, even though she’s physically capable of donning the offensive clothing and going somewhere in it, he’s not going to let her, making her choice for her.
爸爸不喜歡女兒穿短裙，他可以說(shuō)：“嘿年輕的小姐！你不可以穿成那樣走出家門(mén)！”這位父親是在強(qiáng)調(diào)，即使女兒的身材適合穿這樣暴露的衣服去那些不三不四的地方，他也不會(huì)任憑女兒胡亂來(lái)，他會(huì)替她的女兒做出正確的選擇。
In the same way, when a person says “You can not be serious,” he really means, “You are choosing not to be serious,” which is a roundabout way of expressing disbelief or disapproval and saying he wants the other person to quit fooling around.
同樣，當(dāng)一個(gè)人說(shuō)“你不要太認(rèn)真”的時(shí)候，他想表達(dá)的是“你不用那么苛刻去對(duì)待什么事情”，這是一種表達(dá)不信任感或不贊成的迂回方式，并且表明他不想讓其他人再糊涂下去了。
Multiple Abilities
關(guān)于多種能力
Related to the idea of emphasis is the concept of stressing that someone has multiple abilities.
與強(qiáng)調(diào)的概念相關(guān)的是強(qiáng)調(diào)某人有多種能力。
People usually do this using “not only…but” statements, such as “He can not only sing, but he acts, too.”
人們總是用“不但……而且……”句型來(lái)陳述這一事實(shí)，例如，“他不但會(huì)唱，而且也會(huì)表演。”
A person generally can rewrite a sentence like this to make the dual abilities a little more clear, such as “He can sing, and he can act, too.” The first construction, however, draws a little more attention to the second ability, essentially saying, “Yes, he has Ability A, but don’t ignore Ability B.”
人們總是改寫(xiě)例如“他會(huì)唱歌，他也會(huì)表演?！边@樣的句子，使之描寫(xiě)這個(gè)人的兩種能力時(shí)會(huì)更加清晰簡(jiǎn)明。然而，“cannot”是讓聽(tīng)眾稍注意一下第二種能力，也就是說(shuō)，“似的，他會(huì)做A，但是請(qǐng)別忘了他也會(huì)做B。”
Commonality
共同性原則
Even though these two terms technically do have slightly different meanings, widespread inappropriate application has made them almost interchangeable in everyday language.
在技術(shù)上講，盡管這兩個(gè)詞在意義上有輕微的差別，但由于人們不恰當(dāng)?shù)貜V泛使用，這兩個(gè)詞已經(jīng)在今天的語(yǔ)言中可以互換了。
According to some sources, though, “cannot” is the more common version. Location has some influence on usage, with some areas preferring the single word and others preferring the phrase.
根據(jù)一些消息來(lái)源，“cannot”是更為普遍的使用形式。但是不排除地理位置對(duì)使用有一定的影響，有些地方更喜歡單字（cannot），而有些地方更喜歡這個(gè)短語(yǔ)（can not）。
“See u next time”
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編 譯 | 楊天羽
審 核 | 李恩慶
資 料 來(lái) 源 | wiseGeek 大學(xué)英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)
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