who can

USAGE SUMMARY

'who can' is correct and usable in written English.
'Who can' can be used to ask a question. Example: Who can tell me where the nearest store is?.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Who can know?

The New York Times

Who can remember?

The New York Times

Who can bike faster?

The Guardian - Sport

And who can argue?

The New York Times

Who can help?

The New York Times - Sports

Who can argue?

The New York Times - Sports

WHO can prescribe them?

The New York Times

Who can register voters?

The New York Times

Who can blame them?

The New York Times

Who can blame him?

The New York Times

Who can do it?

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "who can" to directly inquire about a person's ability or permission to perform an action. For example, "Who can help me with this task?" is clear and concise.

Common error

Avoid using "who can" in declarative sentences where a statement of ability or permission is needed. Instead of "I need to find who can do this", use "I need to find someone who can do this".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "who can" functions primarily as an interrogative pronoun + auxiliary verb construction. It is used to form questions seeking to identify a person or persons capable of performing a specific action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a common and acceptable way to initiate questions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "who can" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for initiating questions about ability, permission, or qualification. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Predominantly found in news and media sources, it maintains a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal settings. Remember to use it in interrogative contexts and avoid misusing it in declarative statements. Consider alternatives like ""who is able to"" for a more explicit expression of ability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

who is able to

Replaces "can" with its synonym "is able", emphasizing capability.

who has the ability to

Expands on the concept of ability, making it more explicit.

which person is capable of

Uses "capable of" to denote ability in a more formal tone.

who is permitted to

Focuses on permission rather than ability.

what person can

Replaces the word "who" with "what person" to inquire about ability.

who is qualified to

Highlights the qualifications needed for a specific action.

who is the right person to

Focuses on finding the most suitable person for a task.

who knows how to

Emphasizes knowledge or skill in performing an action.

who among us can

Emphasizes that someone within a specific group has a particular ability.

who is authorized to

Focuses on formal authorization to perform an action.

FAQs

How to use "who can" in a sentence?

"Who can" is typically used to ask a question about a person's ability or permission. For example, "Who can solve this problem?" or "Who can authorize this request?".

What can I say instead of "who can"?

You can use alternatives like "who is able to", "who is permitted to", or "who has the ability to", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "who can" or "who is able to"?

Both "who can" and "who is able to" are grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably in many contexts. "Who can" is more concise, while "who is able to" is more explicit about ability.

What's the difference between "who can" and "who may"?

"Who can" generally refers to the ability or capability to do something, while "who may" refers to permission or possibility. For example, "Who can help?" asks about ability, while "Who may enter?" asks about permission.