można + Infinitive

Można with an Infinitive

Level 2

Use można + infinitive to express general possibility or permission without referring to a specific person.

How It Works

The construction można + infinitive is one of the most versatile tools in Polish. Unlike the verb móc, which conjugates for 'I', 'you', 'he', etc., można is subjectless.

1. General Usage
It is used to state rules, ask for permission politely, or describe what is possible in a given situation. Because it doesn't point to a specific person, it sounds neutral and often more polite than direct questions. In social contexts, like knocking on a door, you can simply say "Czy można?" as a standalone phrase meaning "May I?" or "Is it okay?".

2. Tense Changes
While można itself never changes, you can change the tense by adding the 3rd person singular neuter form of być:

  • Present: można (it is possible)
  • Past: można było (it was possible)
  • Future: można będzie (it will be possible)
  • Conditional: można byłoby (it would be possible)

3. Verb Aspect
The choice of infinitive depends on verb aspect:

  • Use an imperfective infinitive for general rules, ongoing actions, or habits (e.g., można palić - smoking is allowed).
  • Use a perfective infinitive for specific, one-time results (e.g., można kupić - one can buy/finish the purchase).

4. Negation
To say something is impossible or not allowed, simply add nie before it: nie można. Note that while nie można means 'one cannot', the word nie wolno is much stronger, meaning 'it is forbidden'.

Examples (6)

  1. Czy można tu palić?

    Is it possible/allowed to smoke here?

    Word by Word: Whether possible here to smoke?

    A common way to ask for permission in public spaces using an imperfective infinitive for a general activity.

  2. Tu można kupić świeży chleb.

    You can buy fresh bread here.

    Word by Word: Here possible to buy fresh bread.

    Uses 'można' with a perfective infinitive to describe the possibility of completing a specific transaction.

  3. Tego nie można naprawić.

    This cannot be repaired.

    Word by Word: This not possible to repair.

    Expresses that a specific result is physically impossible.

  4. Można było to zrobić lepiej.

    It was possible to do it better.

    Word by Word: Possible was this to do better.

    Demonstrates the past tense using 'było'.

  5. Czy można?

    May I? / Is it okay?

    Word by Word: Whether possible?

    A very common idiomatic way to ask for entry or permission to do something without needing to state the verb.

  6. Czy można wejść?

    May I come in? / Is it possible to enter?

    Word by Word: Whether possible to enter?

    A polite, impersonal way to ask for entry using a perfective infinitive for a single action.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a nominative subject (like 'ja' or 'ty') with można.

    Ja można iść do kina.
    Mogę iść do kina. / Można iść do kina.

    Można is impersonal and cannot have a subject. If you want to specify 'I', use the conjugated verb 'móc' (mogę).

  • Using można to describe your own learned skill.

    Different MeaningMożna pływać bardzo szybko.
    Umiem pływać bardzo szybko.

    Można pływać bardzo szybko is a good sentence, but it states a general possibility or permission ('one can swim very fast'). To say that you have the skill, use umieć: Umiem pływać bardzo szybko.

How It Connects

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

można + InfinitiveLevel 2Można with an Infinitive

Learn This First

Learn Modal Verbs With Infinitives before Można With An Infinitive.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

można