Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'cannot'

English Word: cannot

Key Russian Translations:

• не могу [nʲɪ ˈmuɡʊ] - [Informal, First person singular, Used in everyday conversation to express personal inability]
• не можешь [nʲɪ ˈmuɡʲɪʂ] - [Informal, Second person singular, Used when addressing someone directly in casual settings]
• не может [nʲɪ ˈmoɡʲɪt] - [Formal/Neutral, Third person singular, Used for he/she/it in various contexts]

Frequency: High (Negation structures like this are very common in Russian daily language)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level, as basic negation is introduced early, but conjugation adds slight complexity for intermediate learners)

Pronunciation (Russian):

не могу: [nʲɪ ˈmuɡʊ]

не можешь: [nʲɪ ˈmuɡʲɪʂ]

не может: [nʲɪ ˈmoɡʲɪt]

Note on не могу: The stress falls on the second syllable ("mu"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft "г" sound; it softens to [ɡʊ] in casual speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Expressing inability or impossibility to perform an action

Translation(s) & Context:

• не могу - Used in informal contexts to indicate personal inability, such as in daily conversations or self-referential statements.
• не можешь - Applied when addressing others informally, often in questions or commands to highlight their limitations.
• не может - Neutral form for third-person references, suitable for formal writing or descriptions of others' capabilities.

Usage Examples:

• Я не могу прийти на встречу сегодня из-за плохой погоды. (Ya ne mogu prity na vstrechu segodnya iz-za plokhoy pogody.)

  I cannot come to the meeting today because of the bad weather.

• Ты не можешь понять это без дополнительной практики. (Ty ne mozhesh' ponyat' eto bez dopolnitel'noy praktiki.)

  You cannot understand this without additional practice.

• Он не может ждать дольше; время уходит. (On ne mozhet zhdat' dol'she; vremya ukhodit.)

  He cannot wait any longer; time is running out.

• Мы не можем игнорировать проблему, она слишком серьезная. (My ne mozhem ignorirovat' problemu, ona slishkom seryoznaya.)

  We cannot ignore the problem; it is too serious.

• Эта машина не может ехать быстрее из-за ограничения скорости. (Eta mashina ne mozhet yekhat' bystree iz-za ogranicheniya skorosti.)

  This car cannot go faster due to the speed limit.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The key verb here is "мочь" (to be able), which is irregular and conjugates based on person, number, and tense. "Не" is added for negation. Below is a conjugation table for the present tense of "мочь" in its negative form:

Note: This verb does not change in the infinitive form ("мочь"), but its negations vary as shown. It is aspectually imperfective, meaning it focuses on the ongoing ability.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: не в силах (not in power), неспособен (incapable) - "не в силах" is often used for physical inability, implying exhaustion.
• Antonyms: могу (I can), способен (capable) - "способен" emphasizes innate ability rather than immediate possibility.

Related Phrases:

• Не могу дождаться - Cannot wait (Used to express eager anticipation, e.g., for an event).
• Не могу поверить - Cannot believe (Common in expressions of surprise or disbelief).
• Не могу остановиться - Cannot stop (Often in contexts of addiction or unstoppable actions, with a connotation of compulsion).

Usage Notes:

The English "cannot" directly corresponds to the Russian negation of the verb "мочь," but Russian requires conjugation based on the subject (e.g., use "не могу" for first person, not "не можешь"). Be mindful of formality: "не можете" is more polite for second person. In contexts of prohibition, "нельзя" (it is not allowed) might be a better alternative to "cannot." When choosing among translations, select based on the subject's person and the sentence's context to ensure natural flow.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "не могу" for third-person subjects, e.g., saying "Он не могу" instead of "Он не может."
  Correct: "Он не может" (He cannot). Explanation: Russian verbs must agree in person and number; mixing them leads to grammatical errors that sound unnatural to native speakers.

• Error: Overusing "не могу" in formal writing, where "не способен" might be more appropriate.
  Correct: Use "не способен" for general incapacity in essays. Explanation: "не могу" is conversational, while "не способен" fits descriptive or formal contexts, helping avoid overly casual tone.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions like "не могу" often reflect a sense of modesty or realism about one's limitations, which aligns with cultural values of humility and practicality. For instance, in social interactions, admitting "не могу" can foster empathy and community support, emphasizing collective problem-solving over individual capability.

Related Concepts:

• мочь (to be able)
• нельзя (cannot, in the sense of prohibition)
• способность (ability)