gribēt / varēt + Infinitive

Want to and Can

Level 1

gribu, gribi, grib + infinitive = want to. varu, vari, var + infinitive = can. Es gribu ēst. Es varu palīdzēt.

How It Works

The forms. Both verbs follow the pattern of redzēt:

  • gribēt: gribu, gribi, grib, gribam, gribat, grib
  • varēt: varu, vari, var, varam, varat, var

Verb + infinitive. The second verb does not change: Es gribu dzert. Viņa grib gulēt. Mēs varam palikt. If the infinitive has an object, the object takes the accusative: Es gribu dzert kafiju. See the accusative for objects.

Wanting a thing. Gribēt can take a noun in the accusative directly: Es gribu kafiju. In a café, a softer way to ask is Es gribētu kafiju or simply Vienu kafiju, lūdzu. See polite wishes.

Three kinds of "can". Varēt means being able to, or something being possible: Es varu atnākt rīt. For a skill you have learned, Latvian often uses prast or mācēt: Es protu peldēt (I can swim). See three kinds of knowing. For permission there is drīkstēt, although everyday speech also asks Vai es varu…? See may I.

Negation. Ne- is joined to the first verb: negribu, nevaru. See negating a verb.

Polite requests. With a stranger, use the jūs form: Vai jūs varat atkārtot? (Could you repeat that?).

Examples (6)

  1. Es gribu ēst.

    I want to eat.

    Gribu changes for the person; ēst stays in the infinitive.

  2. Vai tu vari palīdzēt?

    Can you help?

  3. Es šodien nevaru atnākt.

    I can't come today.

    Ne- joins varu: nevaru.

  4. Mēs gribam braukt uz jūru.

    We want to go to the seaside.

  5. Vai jūs varat atkārtot?

    Could you repeat that?

    Polite jūs takes the plural form varat.

  6. Viņš negrib strādāt.

    He doesn't want to work.

Common Mistakes

  • Conjugating the second verb too.

    Es gribu ēdu.
    Es gribu ēst.

    After gribēt and varēt, the second verb stays in the infinitive: ēst, not ēdu.

  • Leaving the object of the infinitive in the nominative.

    Es gribu dzert kafija.
    Es gribu dzert kafiju.

    Kafija is the object of dzert, so it takes the accusative kafiju.

  • Writing ne apart from the verb.

    Es ne varu atnākt.
    Es nevaru atnākt.

    When ne negates a verb, it is written together with it: nevaru, negribu.

How It Connects

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gribēt / varēt + InfinitiveLevel 1Want to and Can

Learn This First

Gribēt and varēt conjugate like redzēt.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

gribētvarēt