יכול + Infinitive

Can and Be Able to

Level 2

יכול, יכולה, יכולים and יכולות express ability or possibility with an infinitive. The infinitive names what is possible.

How It Works

Choose the Form

A male speaker uses יכול and a female speaker uses יכולה. Groups use יכולים or יכולות according to agreement. Keep the following infinitive unchanged: היא יכולה לקרוא.

Ability or Circumstances

יכול can concern a skill, available time, or a possibility allowed by the situation. אתה יכול לפתוח את הדלת? can function as a request, Can you open the door?, rather than a test of physical ability.

Negation and Permission

לא יכול says cannot. אסור says an action is forbidden, while מותר says it is permitted. Context can connect inability and permission, but the expressions are not automatically identical. Past ability can use past forms of יכול, as in יכולתי לבוא, or היה יכול with agreement and an infinitive; context determines the interpretation.

Examples (4)

  1. אני יכול לקרוא עברית.

    I can read Hebrew.

    A male speaker expresses ability.

  2. היא יכולה לבוא מחר.

    She can come tomorrow.

    The circumstances allow her to come.

  3. אנחנו לא יכולים להיכנס.

    We cannot enter.

    לא negates the ability or possibility.

  4. אתה יכול לפתוח את הדלת?

    Can you open the door?

    This can be a request.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a present verb where an infinitive is needed.

    היא יכולה קוראת.
    היא יכולה לקרוא.

    Follow יכולה with the infinitive לקרוא.

How It Connects

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

יכול + InfinitiveLevel 2Can and Be Able to

Learn This First

An agreeing ability predicate introduces an infinitive activity.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.