können
das Modalverb können
können is a German modal verb meaning “can / to be able to”: kann · kannst · kann.
können is easy to conjugate: ich and er/sie/es have the same form. The main verb goes to the end of the sentence as an infinitive.
Conjugation table
With modal verbs, the ich and er/sie/es forms are exactly the same, and they take no ending.
Learn this rule once and you will see the same pattern in every modal verb (können, müssen, wollen …). English does the same thing: “I can, he can” — no -s.
| Person | Verb |
|---|---|
| ich | kann |
| du | kannst |
| er/sie/es | kann |
| wir | können |
| ihr | könnt |
| sie/Sie | können |
The ich and er/sie/es forms are identical and take no ending.
When to use it
können expresses ability, and in everyday speech permission too; in formal writing dürfen is preferred for permission.
| German | English | Situation |
|---|---|---|
| Ich kann schwimmen. | I can swim. | Ability |
| Du kannst heute kommen. | You can come today. | Permission (everyday) |
| Er kann gut kochen. | He can cook well. | Ability |
| Wir können morgen fahren. | We can go tomorrow. | Plan / possibility |
These sentences show the ability, permission and possibility uses.
- Ich kann schwimmen. I can swim. ability
- Du kannst heute kommen. You can come today. permission
- Er kann gut kochen. He can cook well. ability
- Wir können morgen fahren. We can go tomorrow. plan
- Ihr könnt mir helfen. You (all) can help me. help
- Sie können Deutsch sprechen. They / you (formal) can speak German. ability
The four jobs of können
The dictionary says “can”, but in everyday German können does four different jobs. If you do not know which one you are in, you will mistake a polite request for a question about ability — just like English “Can you help me?”.
| Job | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · Ability | Ich kann schwimmen. | I can swim. (I learned how) |
| 2 · Possibility | Heute kann ich nicht kommen. | I can’t come today. (circumstances do not allow it) |
| 3 · Request | Können Sie mir helfen? | Could you help me? |
| 4 · Permission (everyday) | Kann ich hier sitzen? | Can I sit here? |
Sentence structure
In a main clause the modal verb is conjugated in second position and the main verb goes to the end as an infinitive.
In a question the modal verb moves to the front, and in a negative sentence nicht goes before the main verb.
| Type | German | English |
|---|---|---|
| Statement | Ich kann schwimmen. | I can swim. |
| Question | Kannst du schwimmen? | Can you swim? |
| Negative | Ich kann nicht schwimmen. | I can’t swim. |
In a question the modal verb moves to the front; in a negative sentence “nicht” goes before the main verb.
Where people mix things up: dürfen vs können
können = ability / (everyday) permission; dürfen = formal permission.
In everyday speech either one can be used for permission — much like “can I?” versus “may I?” in English — but in formal and written contexts dürfen is the choice for permission.
| German | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Darf ich hier rauchen? | May I smoke here? | Formal request for permission |
| Kann ich hier rauchen? | Can I smoke here? | Everyday way to ask permission |
In formal writing, 'dürfen' is preferred for permission.
Traps
A conjugated verb instead of the infinitive
After a modal verb the main verb must be an infinitive; a conjugated form is not allowed.
Ich kann schwimmt.
schwimmt is conjugated (3rd person singular); it should be the infinitive “schwimmen”.
Ich kann schwimmen.
I can swim.
Adding zu
English often says “to” (“I want to go”, “I’m able to swim”), but in German zu never follows a modal verb; the infinitive stands on its own.
Ich kann zu schwimmen.
'zu' is unnecessary and wrong.
Ich kann schwimmen.
I can swim.
Using kann for a past ability
To talk about an ability in the past, use konnte (Präteritum), not kann.
Ich kann gestern schwimmen.
Tense mismatch; 'kann' is present tense.
Ich konnte gestern schwimmen.
I was able to swim yesterday.
What you just learned
___ du Deutsch sprechen?
Show the answer
Kannst, kannst — kannst. The modal verb können (ability / possibility) is irregular. In the singular the stem vowel changes from ö to a; du also adds -st: kannst.
How do you ask “Can you come today?” in German?
Show the answer
Kannst du heute kommen? In a question the modal verb moves to the front; the rest of the order stays intact.
“You can’t smoke here.” (a ban)
Show the answer
Hier darfst du nicht rauchen. — darfst. A ban is expressed with dürfen, and with du it takes -st: darfst; darf is only for ich/er/sie/es. musst du nicht means “you do not have to smoke”. In everyday speech you also hear Hier kannst du nicht rauchen; the full form of the rule uses dürfen.
The other modal verbs
Know this before the test
The core of the topic in three lines, then the mistakes people make most often.
- können = to be able to
Ability and possibility: Ich kann schwimmen · Kannst du kommen? The main verb goes to the end as an infinitive.
Ich kann schwimmen.
- Knowing a language is also können
Ich kann Deutsch. — a complete sentence even without a verb; the “speak” is built in.
Kannst du Türkisch?
- a in the singular, ö in the plural
ich/er kann · du kannst — wir/sie können · ihr könnt.
ich kann → wir können
- Requests: Könnten Sie …?
The Konjunktiv form makes a polite request. In everyday speech Kannst du mal …? is common too.
Könnten Sie mir bitte helfen?
Er kannt gut kochen.
Er kann gut kochen.
A modal verb takes no -t in the third person singular.
Ich darf gut schwimmen. (when talking about your ability)
Ich kann gut schwimmen.
Ability is the job of können; dürfen only talks about permission.
Ich kann schwimmen nicht.
Ich kann nicht schwimmen.
nicht comes before the infinitive.
Ich kann zu schwimmen.
Ich kann schwimmen.
zu does not follow a modal verb.
Test yourself
Tap an answer — we will look at why together.
How do you say “I can swim.” in German?
How do you ask “Can you come today?” in German?
How do you say “He can cook well.” in German?
How do you say “We can go tomorrow.” in German?
How do you say “You (all) can help me.” in German?
“You can’t smoke here.” (a ban)
Practice done — –
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können pocket card
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Related topics
Modal verbs
Ich will Deutsch lernen
Modal verbs express ability, permission or obligation alongside another verb: Ich will Deutsch lernen.
Verb conjugation · Präsens
Ich gehe, du gehst
Conjugation means the verb changes its ending to match the subject: Ich gehe, du gehst, er geht.
Word order
Heute gehe ich ins Kino
German word order puts the conjugated verb in second position, whatever comes first: Heute gehe ich ins Kino.