# Yes, if degree of ability represents maximum ability

The auxiliary verb "can" refers to ability to do something, which may express a degree of ability. For example, a crossbow bolt case "can hold up to twenty crossbow bolts." In this sentence, 20 is the degree of capability the crossbow bolt case has - it can hold anywhere from 0 to 20 bolts.

The text often uses the language "up to" to help clarify, but this is not strictly necessary, and is missing in a few cases, notably in race longevity, the movement and jumping rules, and the sculpt spell ability. 

> "an elf... **can** live to be 750 years old"

> Every character and monster has a speed, which is the distance in feet that the character or monster **can** walk in 1 round.

> "Your strength determines how far you **can** jump."

> When you cast an evocation spell that affects other creatures that you can see, you **can** choose a number of them equal to 1 + the spell’s level

It is natural in each case to read each degree of ability as a maximum ability, not an obligation to live to exactly 750 years, move exactly your speed, or preserve an exact number of creatures. When the text indicates something that you are obliged to do, it uses the auxiliary verb "must".