Modal Verb - können (can)

German sentences usually follow a strict order. With können, things get even more interesting. We call this the verb bracket (Verbklammer). Imagine the sentence is a sandwich. können is the first slice of bread. The main action verb is the second slice. Everything else—the meat, cheese, and lettuce—goes in the middle. You conjugate können and put it in the second position. The other verb stays in its basic form (the infinitive). This basic verb travels all the way to the very end of the sentence. It waits there patiently. This might feel weird at first. You might want to put the action verb right after können. Don't do it! Keep that action verb at the end. It is like a grammar traffic light. Green means go at the start, but red means stop at the very end. This structure is vital for sounding like a native speaker. It gives your sentences a clear, logical frame.

1. 1Conjugating können is a bit of a rebel move. Most German verbs follow a predictable path. Modal verbs like können have a vowel change in the singular forms. Here is how you build it step-by-step:
2. 2Start with the root könn-.
3. 3For singular forms (ich, du, er/sie/es), change the ö to an a.
4. 4Notice that ich and er/sie/es have NO ending. They are twins!
5. 5The plural forms (wir, ihr, sie/Sie) keep the ö and use regular endings.
6. 6Let's look at the list:
7. 7ich kann (I can)
8. 8du kannst (you can)
9. 9er/sie/es kann (he/she/it can)
10. 10wir können (we can)
11. 11ihr könnt (you all can)
12. 12sie/Sie können (they/you formal can)
13. 13Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes when they are tired. Just remember: the singular forms are the "can-do" a team. The plural forms stay loyal to the original ö.

You will use können in three main scenarios. First, use it for abilities and skills. This is the most common use. If you can swim, speak German, or play the guitar, use können. For example: Ich kann Gitarre spielen. Second, use it for possibilities. If something is possible or the circumstances allow it, können is your friend. "We can meet at five" becomes Wir können uns um fünf treffen. Third, use it for informal permission or requests. In a restaurant, you might say: Kann ich bitte die Rechnung haben? (Can I have the bill, please?). It is also perfect for job interviews. When an interviewer asks, "Can you work on weekends?", you would answer with können. It sounds professional and capable. Think of it like a Swiss Army knife. It fits almost every situation where potential or ability is involved.

There is a common trap for English speakers. In English, "I know how to" and "I can" often overlap. In German, they are distinct. Do not use können for knowing facts. For that, you need wissen. If you know that Berlin is the capital, use wissen. Also, do not use können for knowing people or places. Use kennen for that. If you know Peter, you say Ich kenne Peter. können is strictly for the *ability* to do something or the *possibility* of an event. Another limit: don't use it for formal permission if you want to be extremely polite. While können is fine with friends, dürfen is the gold standard for formal "may I." It is like a grammar etiquette rule. Using können when you mean dürfen is like wearing sneakers to a gala. It works, but people might notice!

The biggest mistake is the "ich kann-e" error. Beginners love to add an -e to the ich form. They think: ich lerne, ich mache, so it must be ich kanne. Nope! ich kann is short and sweet. No extra letters invited. Another classic is putting the second verb in the wrong place. If you say Ich kann spielen Fußball, a German speaker will understand you, but their brain will itch. It MUST be Ich kann Fußball spielen. The action always goes to the end. Also, watch out for the du form. Some people forget the s and say du kannt. It is du kannst. It sounds like a little hiss at the end. Finally, don't forget the umlaut in the plural. Wir konnen is wrong. It has to be wir können. Those two little dots change the whole sound.

Let's compare können with its cousin, dürfen. Both translate roughly to things we are allowed or able to do. können is about internal ability or external possibility. dürfen is about permission from an authority. If you say Ich kann hier parken, it means you are physically able to fit your car there. If you say Ich darf hier parken, it means the sign says it is legal. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. können is your car's engine power. dürfen is the green light from the police. There is also müssen (must). können is optional; müssen is mandatory. Knowing the difference makes you sound much more precise. It's the difference between "I can help" (I'm able) and "I must help" (I have no choice).