can not
Is not able
Can not is an emphatic or formal spelling of cannot, separating the words to stress the negation: You can not expect me to believe that.
The two-word form also appears when "not" belongs to a following phrase: You can not only sing but dance.
In most contexts, the single word cannot is standard.
- impossibleIncapable of occurring
- no wayEmphatic denial
- unableLacking necessary capacity
- limitationBound on extent
- incapableLacking requisite ability
inability · out of the question · negation · shan't · denial · powerless · restriction · unachievable · beyond reach · disallowed · prohibition · couldn't · forbidden · off limits · proscription · barred · won't · deterred
ability/capability
can notcan
Cylindrical metal container
is able to · may · could · might · stands a chance