-न सक्नु

Being Able to

Level 2Sounds Like na saknu

Verb with -न, then सक्नु, means can.

How It Works

Take the stem, add -न, and put a form of सक्नु after it. There are two words: बोल्न सक्छु.

Doer	Can	Cannot
म	सक्छु	सक्दिनँ
तिमी	सक्छौ	सक्दैनौ
ऊ	सक्छ	सक्दैन
उनीहरू	सक्छन्	सक्दैनन्
तपाईं	सक्नुहुन्छ	सक्नुहुन्न

It means ability or possibility. In the present the doer usually takes no ले, as in these examples. ले is optional with this form, as ले (प्रयोगको नियम) explains.

Learners often use the wrong form of the main verb. The verb before सक्नु ends in -न, not -नु. म नेपाली बोल्न सक्छु is right. Say सक्नु last, and let it carry the ending for the person. The ability can be about skill (म पौडिन सक्छु, I can swim) or about a chance (म भोलि आउन सक्छु, I can come tomorrow).

Examples (5)

म नेपाली बोल्न सक्छु।
I can speak Nepali.
बोल्न comes before सक्छु.
म आज आउन सक्दिनँ।
I cannot come today.
सक्दिनँ is the negative for म.
तपाईं नेपाली बोल्न सक्नुहुन्छ?
Can you speak Nepali?
तपाईं takes सक्नुहुन्छ.
उनी राम्रो गीत गाउन सक्छिन्।
She can sing a nice song.
सक्छिन् is the form for a woman who is उनी.
हामी भोलि आउन सक्छौँ।
We can come tomorrow.
सक्छौँ goes with हामी.

Common Mistakes

Using the -नु form before सक्नु.
म नेपाली बोल्नु सक्छु।
म नेपाली बोल्न सक्छु।
Before सक्नु the verb takes -न.

How It Connects

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

-न सक्नुLevel 2Being Able to

Learn This First

-न सक्नु joins the -न form with a helper verb.

-नुThe Dictionary Form
Know the dictionary form, because the -न form is made from the same stem: गर्नु gives गर्न.
Level 1

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Practice -न सक्नु in Bubblegum

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