How Do You Spell CANST?

Pronunciation: [kˈanst] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "canst" can be a bit confusing. It is an archaic form of the word "can," meaning "to be able to." The spelling follows the rules of Early Modern English, which used "-st" as the second person singular present tense suffix of regular verbs. In IPA phonetic transcription, "canst" would be written as /kænst/, with the stress on the first syllable. Although this spelling is no longer commonly used, it can be found in older literature and historical texts.

CANST Meaning and Definition

  1. "Canst" is an archaic English word derived from the Middle English form of "can," which itself originates from the Old English word "cunnan." It is the second-person singular form of the verb "can," primarily used in the past tense. "Can" denotes the ability or capacity to do something. Therefore, "canst" means "you were able to" or "you had the capability to" in its ancient usage.

    In its historical context, "canst" was commonly employed during the Middle English period from the 11th to the 15th century. It was a significant part of the language during the transition from Old English to Early Modern English, gradually being replaced by "could" as the past tense form of "can" in common usage. However, it is still occasionally encountered in older texts, literature, or poetic works that make use of the language styles predating the Renaissance era.

    Today, the use of "canst" has largely become outdated and obsolete in modern English. However, it may occasionally be utilized in a theatrical or poetic context to evoke an old-fashioned or poetic atmosphere. As a result, "canst" is typically not employed in everyday conversation and is only encountered in a historical or literary context.

Common Misspellings for CANST

Etymology of CANST

The word "canst" is an old-fashioned contraction of the verb "can" in the second person singular form. "Can" itself is derived from the Old English "cunnan", which means "to be able". In Old English, "canst" was spelled "canst" or "canstow", which evolved from the West Saxon dialect.

Conjugate verb Canst

CONDITIONAL

I would canst
you would canst
he/she/it would canst
we would canst
they would canst

CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS

I would be cansting
you would be cansting
he/she/it would be cansting
we would be cansting
they would be cansting

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have canst
you would have canst
he/she/it would have canst
we would have canst
they would have canst

CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I would have been cansting
you would have been cansting
he/she/it would have been cansting
we would have been cansting
they would have been cansting

FUTURE

I will canst
you will canst
he/she/it will canst
we will canst
they will canst

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be cansting
you will be cansting
he/she/it will be cansting
we will be cansting
they will be cansting

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have cansted
you will have cansted
he/she/it will have cansted
we will have cansted
they will have cansted

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been cansting
you will have been cansting
he/she/it will have been cansting
we will have been cansting
they will have been cansting

IMPERATIVE

you canst
we let´s canst

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to canst

PAST

I cansted
you cansted
he/she/it cansted
we cansted
they cansted

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was cansting
you were cansting
he/she/it was cansting
we were cansting
they were cansting

PAST PARTICIPLE

cansted

PAST PERFECT

I had cansted
you had cansted
he/she/it had cansted
we had cansted
they had cansted

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been cansting
you had been cansting
he/she/it had been cansting
we had been cansting
they had been cansting

PRESENT

I canst
you canst
he/she/it cansts
we canst
they canst

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am cansting
you are cansting
he/she/it is cansting
we are cansting
they are cansting

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

cansting

PRESENT PERFECT

I have cansted
you have cansted
he/she/it has cansted
we have cansted
they have cansted

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been cansting
you have been cansting
he/she/it has been cansting
we have been cansting
they have been cansting