-इ सकब

Can: सकब

Level 3Sounds Like i sakaba

The -इ form plus सकब means can: be able to do something.

How It Works

To say can, take the -इ form of the main verb and add a form of सकब.

WhoForm
ऊबोलि सकत अहै
तुमआइ सकत हौ
ऊ लोगचलाइ सकत अहैं
हम (future)आइ सकब

The main verb stays in the -इ form for everyone. Only सकब changes.

For the negative, put नाहीं before the -इ form: हम काल्हि नाहीं आइ सकब (I can't come tomorrow). If the speaker tried and did not manage, use पाउब instead (see -इ पाउब).

To stress a skill that was learned, such as knowing how to read, the pattern is -ै आउब. सकब is for ability and permission.

Examples (4)

  1. ऊ अवधी बोलि सकत अहै।

    She can speak Awadhi.

    बोलि is the -इ form, सकत अहै the helper.

  2. तुम आइ सकत हौ?

    Can you come?

    सकत हौ is the तुम form.

  3. हम काल्हि नाहीं आइ सकब।

    I can't come tomorrow.

    नाहीं comes before the -इ form आइ.

  4. ऊ लोग गाड़ी चलाइ सकत अहैं।

    They can drive a car.

    चलाइ is the -इ form of चलाउब.

Common Mistakes

  • Use the -इ form, not the bare stem, before सकब.

    ऊ अवधी बोल सकत अहै।
    ऊ अवधी बोलि सकत अहै।

    Without -इ it is a Hindi pattern.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-इ सकबLevel 3Can: सकब

Learn This First

Can is the -इ joining form plus सकत अहै.