kan
Can/be Able to
Use 'kan' to say you can do something, that something is possible, or to give permission.
How It Works
'Kan' is one of the most common modal verbs in Swedish. It's used to express ability, possibility, or permission. Like other modal verbs, it has a simple structure and doesn't change its form in the present tense.
Structure:
Subject + kan + Main Verb (infinitive form)
A key rule is that the following main verb in this basic pattern is in its infinitive (base) form, and you must not use the infinitive marker att.
Main Uses of 'Kan':
- Ability: To say that someone is able to do something.
Ex: Jag kan simma. (I can swim.) - Possibility: To say that something might happen.
Ex: Det kan bli kallt i kväll. (It can get cold tonight.) - Permission: To ask for or give permission.
Ex: Kan jag låna din penna? (Can I borrow your pen?)
Ex: Ja, du kan gå nu. (Yes, you can go now.)
Tense Forms:
The verb 'kunna' (the infinitive form of 'kan') has different tenses:
- Present: kan
- Past (Preterite): kunde
- Perfect: har kunnat
Ex (Past): När hon var fem år kunde hon läsa. (When she was five years old, she could read.)
Ex (Perfect): Jag har inte kunnat sova på hela veckan. (I haven't been able to sleep all week.)
Other Complements And Short Answers
Kan can stand without a following verb when the action is understood: Kan du simma? Ja, det kan jag. Kunna can also mean know or have a skill: Jag kan svenska. These do not change the rule for kan + infinitive.
Examples (5)
- Jag kan tala svenska.
I can speak Swedish.
Word by Word: I can speak Swedish.
- Det kan regna senare.
It might rain later.
Word by Word: It can rain later.
Here, 'kan' is used to express possibility, not ability.
- Kan du öppna fönstret?
Can you open the window?
Word by Word: Can you open the window?
- Ni kan börja när ni är klara.
You (plural) can start when you are ready.
Word by Word: You can begin when you are ready.
- Förut kunde jag springa en mil.
I used to be able to run ten kilometers.
Word by Word: Before / could I run / one Swedish mil (ten kilometers).
Kunde is the past tense of kan. A Swedish mil is ten kilometers, not one English mile.
Common Mistakes
Using 'att' after 'kan'.
Jag kan att köra bil.Jag kan köra bil.When kan takes an infinitive, omit att: kan köra.
Adding a present tense ending to 'kan'.
Hon kanar spela piano.Hon kan spela piano.'Kan' is a modal verb and does not change for different pronouns in the present tense. It's always 'kan', not 'kanar' or 'kaner'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use the modal verb 'kan' (can/be able to), you need to understand basic verb usage and word order. Crucially, you must know that 'kan' is followed by the infinitive form of a second verb, and unlike many other constructions, it specifically omits the infinitive marker 'att'.
Related Patterns
- ska/skallWill/shall
'Ska' (will/shall) is another common modal verb. It follows the same grammatical pattern as 'kan': modal verb + main verb in infinitive without 'att'.
Level 2 - villWant to
'Vill' (want to) is also a modal verb. It's helpful to learn these together as they all express modality and share the same sentence structure.
Level 2 - måsteMust/have to
'Måste' (must/have to) expresses necessity, contrasting with 'kan' which expresses ability or permission. They both use the same grammatical structure.
Level 2 - fårMay/get to
'Får' (may/are allowed to) is often used for permission, similar to one of the uses of 'kan'. For example, 'Får jag gå?' is a more direct way to ask for permission than 'Kan jag gå?'.
Level 2 - -de/-tePast Tense (Weak Verbs)
The past tense of 'kan' is 'kunde'. While 'kunde' is an irregular form, it's important to understand its function within the broader system of past tenses in Swedish.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- brukarUsually DoLevel 2
- börShould/ought toLevel 2
- Ability expressionsLevel 2
- förmår + InfinitiveBe Capable ofLevel 4
- försöka + InfinitiveTry toLevel 4
- hinner + InfinitiveHave Time toLevel 4
- lär + InfinitiveIs Said To/apparentlyLevel 4
- Modal passive combinationsLevel 4
And 4 more in the full list.
Words in This Pattern
Practice kan in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Swedish lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
