GermanFluent

A1 · Modal verbs

können

can, be able to, know how to

FormSubjekt + können (Position 2) + ... + Infinitiv (Ende)

Meaning and usage

können means can or be able to. You use it for ability, for a skill you have learned, and for something that is possible. The form of können stands in second position and matches the subject: ich kann, du kannst, er kann. Any other verb goes to the very end of the sentence and keeps its dictionary form, with no ending: Ich kann gut Deutsch sprechen.

You can also leave the second verb out when the meaning is clear, as in Ich kann kein Deutsch. The common mistake is to put the second verb right after können and give it a personal ending. Say Wir können noch mal von vorne anfangen, not Wir können anfangen noch mal von vorne.

Examples 5

Test yourself

  1. 1 Sprachbausteine

    Meine Schwester sehr gut Klavier spielen.

    Show answer

    Correct answer: kann

    The subject Meine Schwester is third person singular, so the verb is kann. The second verb spielen stays at the end with no ending.

    • kannst goes with du, not with meine Schwester.
    • könnt goes with ihr, not with meine Schwester.
    • können goes with wir, sie (plural) or Sie, not with a singular subject here.

In this topic: Modal verbs

  1. Modalverb + … + Infinitiv modal verb second, main verb at the end
  2. ich kann, er kann ich and er forms of können: no ending, no umlaut
  3. können can, be able to, know how to
  4. müssen must, have to
  5. wollen want to
  6. möchte would like, polite way to say what you want
  7. dürfen may, be allowed to; asking permission
  8. sollen should, be supposed to, someone else's instruction
  9. mögen to like, mostly with a noun
  10. Verb + gern like doing something
  11. nicht müssen, nicht dürfen not have to vs must not

Example sentences from Tatoeba, used under CC BY 2.0 FR. See sources.