can be play

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence 'can be play' is not correct in written English.
The correct usage would be "can be played." For example, "The game can be played by two or more people."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

For anyone who believes – as I do – that comedy can be play a prominent, distinctive role in political conversation, that satire should be more profound than the milquetoast, backslappy, non-partisan wisecracking that often passes for it on TV, 2015 is a more satisfying time to watch live comedy than 2005.

The Guardian

The opposite of asobi might be majime, which can mean "seriousness, sobriety, gravity, honesty, solemnity, stateliness; also quietness, decency, 'good form.' It is related to the word which we render by 'face' in the well-known Chinese expression 'to lose face.' " "Anything that is impractical can be play," Miyamoto said.

The New Yorker

Examples of such segments can be play times in soccer games, time interval between each bowling in cricket, times between each pitching in baseball games, etc.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Some console games can be played online.

The Economist

It can be played between the sexes.

Independent

Karen can be played strictly for fun.

The New York Times - Arts

CD's can be played anywhere.

The New York Times

This game can be played internationally too.

Harvard Business Review

The same vector can be played into different variables.

Yale University

Scanner Grabber solves this because conversations can be played back.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

It can be played solo or with friends.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct past participle form "played" after "can be". For example, say "The game can be played by anyone" instead of "The game can be play by anyone."

Common error

Avoid using the base form of the verb after "can be". Always use the past participle form to ensure grammatical correctness. Using "can be play" is a common mistake that should be avoided.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can be play" attempts to express possibility or permissibility but fails due to grammatical inaccuracy. According to Ludwig, the phrase requires correction to "can be played" to function correctly as a passive construction.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "can be play" is grammatically incorrect and should be replaced with "can be played". As Ludwig AI points out, the correct form utilizes the past participle. Although examples exist across diverse source types, the grammatical error undermines its usability in formal contexts. For effective communication, always ensure correct verb conjugation. While the intended meaning may be understood in some informal settings, adhering to proper grammar is crucial for clarity and credibility. Consider using alternatives like "is playable" for grammatical precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can be played

Corrected grammatical form of the original phrase, indicating possibility or permissibility of an action.

is capable of playing

Emphasizes the ability or capability to perform the action of playing.

has the potential to play

Highlights the potential or possibility for someone or something to play.

may be used for playing

Indicates a possible use or application related to playing.

can engage in playing

Focuses on the action of participating or engaging in playing.

is available for playing

Indicates that something is accessible or ready to be used for playing.

can participate in playing

Highlights the possibility of taking part in the activity of playing.

is fit for playing

Suggests suitability or appropriateness for the purpose of playing.

could be used to play

Suggests a possible way to utilize something for playing.

is designed to play

Indicates that something was created or intended for playing.

FAQs

How do I properly use the phrase "can be" with a verb?

Always follow "can be" with the past participle form of the verb. For example, use "can be played" instead of "can be play".

What's the correct way to say something is able to be played?

The correct phrase is "can be played". You could also use alternatives like "is playable" or "is able to be played".

Is "can be play" grammatically correct?

No, "can be play" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "can be played". The auxiliary verb "be" requires a past participle.

What are some alternatives to "can be play" that convey a similar meaning?

While "can be play" is incorrect, you can use "can be played" or phrases like "is capable of being played" to express the idea of something being able to be played.