she can swim

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of a sentence "she can swim" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in any sentence in which you are talking about someone's swimming ability. For example: "My daughter is a very fast swimmer; she can swim the length of the pool in 30 seconds!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

She can swim up to 70,000m a week.

Independent

After that, she can swim to Taiwan in booze, for all I care.

The New York Times

It's been good to get her in because she knows she can swim – it's just persuading her.

Independent

"I said on the form she can swim but that's in a swimming pool, not in the sea".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"The fact she can swim very, very well means she has set a new marker down for us and what we've got to be doing in the swim.

BBC

And she can swim.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

She also can swim and use her head as a snowplow.

The Washington Post

"I try to stay in hotels with a pool so I can swim," she said.

The New York Times

"You can swim naked, with a swimming costume, or a wetsuit," she says.

The Guardian

"Sorrows can swim".

The New Yorker

"Dogs can swim".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "she can swim" to clearly and directly express someone's ability to swim. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "she can swim" when you mean other water-related activities like diving or surfing. Be specific about the activity if it's not simply swimming.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she can swim" functions as a statement of ability. According to Ludwig AI, it indicates that a female subject possesses the skill or capacity to swim. This is supported by examples where the phrase is used to describe someone's swimming skills or potential.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "she can swim" is a grammatically correct and neutrally-registered way of stating that someone has the ability to swim. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in English. While it appears most frequently in News & Media, its directness ensures its applicability across diverse contexts. When aiming for variety, phrases like "she is able to swim" or "she knows how to swim" offer alternatives, but "she can swim" remains a straightforward and widely understandable option.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she is able to swim

Formal restatement emphasizing capability.

she knows how to swim

Emphasizes acquired knowledge and skill.

she is a swimmer

Identifies her as someone who swims, implying ability.

she has swimming skills

Highlights the possession of specific skills related to swimming.

she is proficient in swimming

Formal and emphasizes a high level of skill.

she is adept at swimming

Highlights skillfulness or expertise.

she's good at swimming

Informal way to express competence.

she is a capable swimmer

Emphasizes competence and ability.

she can navigate the water

Focuses on navigating specifically through water.

she is comfortable in the water

Highlights ease and familiarity in the water, implying ability.

FAQs

What does "she can swim" mean?

The phrase "she can swim" means that a female person possesses the ability to propel herself through water using coordinated movements.

What can I say instead of "she can swim"?

You can use alternatives like "she is able to swim", "she knows how to swim", or "she is a swimmer" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "she can swims"?

No, "she can swims" is grammatically incorrect. The modal verb "can" is always followed by the base form of the verb. The correct form is "she can swim".

What's the difference between "she can swim" and "she could swim"?

"She can swim" indicates a present ability, while "she could swim" might refer to a past ability or a conditional possibility. For example, "She could swim when she was younger" (past ability) or "If the pool were open, she could swim" (conditional possibility).