Tutorial
In Course: Dutch A1

Using the Modal Verb Kunnen

Master the present-tense forms of the Dutch modal verb kunnen to express ability, state possibility, and ask polite requests in everyday conversation.

A vivid, authentic photograph of a lively outdoor market in the Netherlands, bustling with people conversing and interacting, a friendly vendor in the foreground exchanging goods with a customer, capturing a sense of everyday ability and possibility. The scene is bathed in warm, natural light, composed for a 3:2 landscape frame.
en-GB → nl-NL

Management & Tools

Deck Contents

41 Cards
Lesson#1
In this deck, you will learn the Dutch modal verb 'kunnen', which means 'can' or 'to be able to'. You will use it to talk about skills, describe what is possible, and make polite everyday requests. In Dutch, 'kunnen' pairs with an infinitive, which is placed at the end of the clause.
Lesson#2
To say 'I can' in Dutch, use 'ik kan'. To describe a physical ability, put the action verb in the infinitive at the end of the sentence. For example, 'Ik kan zwemmen' means 'I can swim'.
Quiz#3
Translate into Dutch: 'I can swim.'

Ik kan zwemmen

Lesson#4
To say that you cannot do something, add 'niet' after 'kan'. For example, 'Ik kan niet zwemmen' means 'I cannot swim'.
Quiz#5
Translate into Dutch: 'I cannot swim.'

Ik kan niet zwemmen

Lesson#6
You also use 'ik kan' for sensory perception with verbs like 'horen', which means 'to hear'. For example, 'Ik kan je horen' means 'I can hear you'.

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