सकना

Being Able to

Level 2Sounds Like sakanā

Stem + सकना means can: मैं हिंदी पढ़ सकता हूँ (I can read Hindi).

How It Works

Pattern: stem + सकना. The stem is the verb without -ना: पढ़ना gives पढ़, आना gives आ.

Time	Hindi	Meaning
present	मैं तैर सकता हूँ।	I can swim. (a man)
present	वह गा सकती है।	She can sing.
future	हम कल आ सकेंगे।	We'll be able to come tomorrow.
past	मैं नहीं आ सका।	I couldn't come. (a man)

In the negative present, the helper is often dropped: मैं नहीं आ सकता (I can't come).

A question with सकना asks permission or help politely: क्या मैं अंदर आ सकता हूँ? (May I come in?), क्या आप मेरी मदद कर सकते हैं? (Could you help me?).

In the past, सकना never takes ने, even when the main verb is खाना or पढ़ना: वह खाना नहीं खा सकी (She couldn't eat). The verb agrees with the person. The past of सकना is mostly used in the negative.

Examples (5)

मैं हिंदी पढ़ सकता हूँ।
I can read Hindi.
पढ़ is the stem; सकता हूँ agrees with the man speaking.
मीरा यहाँ आ सकती है।
Meera can come here.
सकती agrees with Meera.
क्या मैं यहाँ बैठ सकता हूँ?
May I sit here?
A सकना question asks for permission.
क्या आप मेरी मदद कर सकते हैं?
Could you help me?
A सकना question also makes a polite request.
मीरा पूरी किताब नहीं पढ़ सकी।
Meera couldn't read the whole book.
In the past there is no ने; सकी agrees with Meera.

Common Mistakes

Adding ने in the past because the main verb takes an object.
उसने खाना नहीं खा सका।
वह खाना नहीं खा सका।
सकना decides the pattern, and सकना never takes ने.
Using the -ना form instead of the stem.
मैं तैरना सकता हूँ।
मैं तैर सकता हूँ।
Drop -ना from the main verb before सकना.

How It Connects

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

सकनाLevel 2Being Able to

Learn This First

Can is a helper after the stem, conjugated like the habitual present.

-ता है / -ती है / -ते हैंPresent Habits and Routines
Conjugate सकना like any verb in the habitual present: सकता हूँ, सकती है.
Level 1

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern