Explanation
解释
Lucy: 'Can' is a modal auxiliary verb. It's used to express certain meanings - for example possibility, ability, requests or permission. Mark, why don't you give me some examples?
露西：”can”是一个助动词。它用来表示肯定的意义，比如可能性，能力，要求，允许。马克，给我举一些例子吧。
Mark: I can leave my car in that parking space.
马克：我可以把车停在那个停车场。
Lucy: Okay. You're saying that you'll possibly leave your car there.
露西：好的。你是说你很可能把车留在那里。
Mark: Can you help me with my work?
马克：你可以帮我做一下我的工作吗?
Lucy: This is a good one because it's an informal request. We're friends so it's appropriate.
露西：这个例子很好因为这不是一个正式的请求，我们是朋友，所以很合适。
Mark: Can I smoke in this room?
马克：我可以在这个房间吸烟吗?
Lucy: Now you've just used 'can' to ask for my permission to do something.
露西：现在你用”can”来征求我的允许。
Lucy: You can't smoke in here. Please go outside.
露西：你不可以在这里吸烟，出去吸。
Mark: Okay, I understood. You used the negative which means I don't have permission to smoke in here.
马克：好的，我知道了。你用了否定的形式，意思是我没有得到在这里吸烟的允许。
Lucy: That is correct. Now let me give you an example, Mark. I can speak Portuguese. Can you?
露西：是的，现在我给你一个例子，马克，我会说葡萄牙语，你会吗?
Mark: No, I cannot. It's cool that you have the ability to speak Portuguese. I can only speak English.
马克：我不会。你能说葡萄牙语太酷了，我只会说英语。
Lucy: Now let's see some sample conversations:
露西：现在让我们来看一些例子吧：
Conversation 1
对话一
Karen: Hey Jamie. Can you help me out with something?
凯伦：嘿，詹米，你可以帮我做点儿事吗?
Jamie: Yes, I can. I just need to finish some work here first.
詹米：可以啊，我要先把这点工作忙完。
Karen: No problem. When will you be free?
凯伦：没问题，你什么时候有时间?
Jamie: In half an hour or so.
詹米：半个小时左右吧。
Karen: Okay. I can wait that much. I'll be outside.
凯伦：好的，我可以等，我在外面。
Conversation 2
对话二
Alan: Can you play any instruments, Garry?
艾伦：你会什么乐器吗?盖瑞?
Garry: No, I cannot. Can you?
盖瑞：不，我不会，你会吗?
Alan: Yes, I can play the guitar.
艾伦：我会弹吉他。
Garry: That's great. I myself can't play any instruments but I can sing well.
盖瑞：很棒啊，我不会乐器但是我唱歌很好。
Alan: Yes, you can. I've heard you before.
艾伦：是的，我听过你唱歌。
Garry: Truth is I love music. And I can memorize things fast so I know many lyrics by heart.
盖瑞：实际上我很爱音乐，我记东西很快所以我记住了很多歌词。
Alan: I can see now why you always have some music on.
艾伦：我现在知道你为什么总是听歌了。
Garry: Yes, I can't live without good music.
盖瑞：是的，我的生活离不开好的音乐。