`Extra English Practice [EEP squeak]
Larissa: Hi, today we're going to talk about how to pronounce can and can't.
Misha: That's right, so can is a weak word in a sentence
which means it doesn't have a lot of stress.
So, for example, I might say, "I can sing."
So it's a small word there.
I put more emphasis on the verb, which is sing.
Larissa: But negative words in English are stressed.
They are important, and so, if I can't sing, I'll say, "I can't sing."
Misha: That's right, more emphasis.
Larissa: So, "I can sing"; "I can't sing."
Misha: You got it? One more example:
"I can write in English"; "I can't write in Arabic."
Larissa: Oh, that's too bad.
Misha: I know, too bad for me, right? So beautiful.
Larissa: Can I go back to dance? Misha: Yeah
Larissa: Did you say dance, at first? Misha: I think so.
Larissa: Sing! Misha: Oh, I said sing.
Okay, "I can dance"; "I can't dance."
Larissa: So, I can dance at home, but I can't dance in public.
[talking over each other] Larissa: Because I get all nervous and my legs stop working..
Misha: This ...we're sort of at home right now let's see it!
Larissa: Let's dance! Misha: [woo woo, wa wa]
Larissa: I think I can do more things than Misha can.
Misha: [gasps] No way! You just try me!
Larissa: Can you whistle "happy birthday"?
Misha: Okay, let me try [whistles happy birthday]
Larissa: Yes, you can. Misha: I can! Can you do it?
Larissa: I can whistle "happy birthday". [whistles happy birthday]
Misha: Oh, you got it!
Ok, next, can you touch your nose with your tongue?
Larissa: I can! ..So there's something.
When you have a short sentence: "Yes, I can" -- the "can" is emphasized.
But when I make the full sentence:
"I can touch my nose with my tongue",
it's short and quiet. "I can touch..
I can touch my nose with my tongue."
Misha: Okay? All right, let's see it.
Larissa: This is kind of gross. Misha: It's kind of awesome!
Woah!
Larissa: Can you touch your nose with your tongue? Misha: I'll try. I don't think so.
Misha: No!
Larissa: I AM going to win this. Misha: I know, so far!
Larissa: Can you count to ten in Japanese?
Misha: Oh, I can't count to ten in Japanese.
Misha: I can't even count to one in Japanese. Can you?
Larissa: I think I can. Misha: Let's try, let's see.
Misha: Someone out there will have to correct her if she gets it wrong.
Larissa: I can count to four. Misha: Okay, let's hear it.
Larissa: Ichi, ni, san, shi....
goku boku doku roku ...[laughter]
Misha: I'm not sure, I'm not sure. Larissa: I can count to four.
Misha: Okay, next one. Can you cross your eyes?
Larissa: Yeah, I can cross my eyes. Misha: Okay, let's see it.
Wooooooah. I don't know if I can do it. I'm gonna try.
That feels very uncomfortable.
Larissa: It's not a great, not a great feeling.
Larissa: Can you write your name in Arabic?
Misha: I can write my name in Arabic.
Larissa: You can?? Misha: I can! Larissa: Oh!
Misha: Oh, I surprised her that time!
Larissa: You are full of talent. You can write your name.
Misha: Yeah, I don't know if it's very pretty, but close enough.
Lariss: So, I think I can. I used to be able to write my name.
Oh, sorry. Misha: Yeah, show the screen.
Larissa: Can you stand on your head?
Misha: I can't stand on my head I don't even want to try. Can you stand on your head?
Larissa: No, no, no, no, I don't see the point, I don't need the headache. I cannot, I can't stand on my head.
Larissa: Can you snap your fingers? Misha: I can snap my fingers. [snaps]
Larissa: I can also snap my fingers. [snaps] Misha: Nice! [sings the word "snapping" a few times]
Larissa: I feel like... there's, um, there's a place.. Spain? Oh, it's maracas [it isn't]..
Misha: I don't know. This is a Canadian dance...
Larissa: That we just made up right now. Misha: Traditional as of today.
Larissa: We call it "Snap"!
Misha: Okay, next, can you roll your tongue? Make your tongue into a little..circle..
Larissa: Oh, yeah, I can roll my tongue. Misha: Let's see it.
Misha: Whoa, well done. Larissa: Can you roll your tongue? Misha: Yeah, I can roll my tongue.
Larissa: That's easy for us. Misha: I've heard that one's genetic.
Larissa: That's genetic, so either you can or you can't. And we can.
Larissa: Okay, this is a thing that people will like to do sometimes.
Can you pat your head and rub your tummy
Misha: I practiced this a lot when I was a kid, so, ready?
[Waaaaaaaaah]
Larissa: And reverse? Misha: Rub my head? Larissa: Uh-huh.
Misha: Don't wanna mess up my hair, though, but I can do it.
Larissa: You can do it. MIsha: Yeah. Can you do it?
Larissa: I can pat my head and rub my tummy.
Misha: Heyyy, nicely done! Point, point!
Larissa: And backwards? And all the ways?[laughter]
Misha: Then we'd really have to flip hands to make it real... realistic.. Larissa: Oh!
Misha: Yeah, good job. She can do it all the ways!
Larissa: I am multi-talented! I can do everything.
Misha: I'm super impressed. It's a useful skill.
Larissa: Can you sign your name in American Sign Language?
Misha: I can sign my name in American Sign Language.
Ready? M I S H A. Misha
Larissa: Ooooo! I think you can sign a lot of things in American Sign Language
Misha: I can sign a few things, that's right. My name is the beginning.
Can you sign your name? Larissa: Yes, but I I can pretty much just sign my name.
Misha: Ok, let's see it.
Larissa: L A R I S S A
Misha: Nice job! Larissa: Thank you.
Misha: Okay, next one. This is a hard one, I think.
Can you wink both eyes? Larissa: Like blink?
Misha: No, like one at a time. Wink.
Larissa: Oh, I know I can wink one eye. Let's see if I can wink two
This one didn't want to stay open!
Not very well. I can do it, but not very well.
My whole face gets involved! Misha: The whole...it has to be..
Larissa: Can you wink your eyes? okay I can do one but I'm not sure about the other.
Ready? Number one. Got it.. but this one!
I can't do it! Nope, no matter how hard I try!
Larissa: But thank you for trying. Misha: Yep, a half a point for me.
Larissa: And finally, this is the last one..
Can you.. can you do a Vulcan salute? Misha: What's the Vulcan salute?
Larissa: It's that Star Trek hand thing. Misha: Oh, I know what you mean.
Okay... no, I can't do it! Sorry. Can you?
Larissa: [showing off a little] Is it this way or this way?
Misha: I think, yeah, all the ways..
You got a little.. hand thing dance!
Larissa: This is the other dance that we just made up right now! It's called the Vulcan hand thing.
Misha: [woo woo] I do a modified version of it.
You can do it. Point for you. Larissa: Hurray!
Larissa: So, the point is when you're using the word "can" in a sentence,
"can" is weak it is not emphasized. Misha: Small word.
Larissa: Small word, weak, quiet...quiet, weak, quick, kind of gloss over it.
And the word that comes after it, the verb that comes after, you're going to say strong and clearly,.
Misha: "I can dance" as example.
Larissa: I can dance the vulcan dance! [laughter]
Misha: As a more specific example.
And then remember: if you're making a negative,
negatives are always emphasized in English.
So "can't" as a word has emphasis.
I can't do the Vulcan hand dance, for example.
Larissa: [laughs] No, you can't. But I like you anyway!
Misha: Thanks.
Misha: We're fun! Larissa: We're fun! Misha: Yeah, I think so.