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A2 verb ニュートラル 3分で読める

kan

/kan/
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Overview

The Swedish word 'kan' is a versatile auxiliary verb derived from the Proto-Germanic *kunnaną, meaning 'to know, to be able.' It functions similarly to the English 'can' or 'be able to,' expressing ability, permission, possibility, or sometimes even a request. As an irregular verb, its conjugation is unique and doesn't follow the standard patterns for Swedish verbs.

Forms of 'kan':

  • Infinitive: kunna (to be able to)
  • Present Tense: kan (can)
  • Preteritum (Past Tense): kunde (could)
  • Supine: kunnat (been able to)
  • Imperative: (not typically used for 'kunna' in the imperative sense, as it expresses ability rather than a direct command).

Usage and Nuances:

  1. 1Ability: This is the most common use. It indicates that the subject possesses the skill, capacity, or knowledge to perform an action.
  • Jag kan tala svenska. (I can speak Swedish.) - Expresses a learned skill.
  • Hon kan lyfta den tunga lådan. (She can lift the heavy box.) - Expresses physical capacity.
  1. 1Permission: 'Kan' can also be used to ask for or grant permission, though 'får' (to be allowed to) is often more explicit for permission.
  • Kan jag låna din penna? (Can I borrow your pen?) - Asking for permission.
  • Ja, du kan. (Yes, you can.) - Granting permission.
  1. 1Possibility: It can suggest that something is possible or might happen, often in a less certain way than 'kommer att' (will) or 'ska' (shall/will).
  • Det kan regna senare idag. (It can rain later today.) - Expresses possibility.
  • Det kan vara sant. (It could be true.) - Expresses possibility or speculation.
  1. 1Request/Suggestion: In questions, 'kan' can form polite requests or suggestions.
  • Kan du hjälpa mig? (Can you help me?) - A polite request.
  • Vi kan gå till parken. (We can go to the park.) - A suggestion.
  1. 1With Negation: When used with 'inte' (not), it expresses inability or impossibility.
  • Jag kan inte komma ikväll. (I cannot come tonight.) - Expresses inability.
  • Det kan inte vara sant! (That cannot be true!) - Expresses impossibility/disbelief.

Common Phrases and Expressions:

  • Så vitt jag kan se: As far as I can see.
  • Det kan hända: It can happen; it's possible.
  • Kan du snälla...?: Can you please...?
  • Vad kan jag göra för dig?: What can I do for you?

Grammatical Position:

As an auxiliary verb, 'kan' always precedes the main verb in a sentence, and the main verb is always in its infinitive form (without 'att').

  • Jag kan simma. (I can swim.)
  • Hon kunde inte hitta vägen. (She couldn't find the way.)

Understanding 'kan' is fundamental for Swedish learners, as it's a frequently used verb with a broad range of applications that mirrors its English counterpart quite closely, making it relatively intuitive for English speakers to grasp.

例文

1

Jag kan simma.

Ability

I can swim.

2

Kan du hjälpa mig?

Request

Can you help me?

3

Det kan regna senare.

Possibility

It might rain later.

4

Man kan inte alltid få som man vill.

General truth/Inability

One cannot always get what one wants.

5

Kan jag få en kopp kaffe?

Polite request

May I have a cup of coffee?

よく使う組み合わせ

kan göra
kan vara
kan bli
kan hända

よく混同される語

kan 対 w

80+ WORDS

文法パターン

p1 p2 p3

使い方

使い方のコツ

The Swedish verb 'kan' primarily means 'can' or 'to be able to.' It is an irregular verb, and importantly, it does not conjugate with personal pronouns; its form remains 'kan' regardless of the subject (e.g., 'jag kan simma' - I can swim, 'vi kan prata svenska' - we can speak Swedish). 'Kan' is also used to express permission, similar to 'may' in English (e.g., 'du kan gå nu' - you can go now/you may go now). It can also indicate possibility or likelihood, often in a less certain way than 'kommer att' (will) (e.g., 'det kan regna senare' - it might rain later). When used with a verb, the infinitive form of the main verb immediately follows 'kan' without the 'att' particle (e.g., 'jag kan spela gitarr' - I can play guitar, not 'jag kan att spela gitarr'). It is a versatile and high-frequency verb crucial for expressing a wide range of meanings related to ability, permission, and possibility in Swedish.

よくある間違い

The main mistake is confusing 'kan' with 'kanna' (a jug or pitcher) or 'kanske' (perhaps). 'Kan' is a verb meaning 'can' or 'to be able to'. It is an irregular verb, so it does not change with the subject (e.g., jag kan, du kan, han kan, vi kan). Also, remember that in Swedish, modal verbs like 'kan' are followed by the infinitive form of the main verb without 'att' (to). For example, 'Jag kan tala svenska' (I can speak Swedish), not 'Jag kan att tala svenska'.

ヒント

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Conjugation Help

'Kan' is an irregular verb. In Swedish, verbs are not conjugated based on person (I, you, he/she/it, we, you, they). The form 'kan' is used for all persons in the present tense.

💡

Common Mistake: 'Kan' vs. 'Vet'

While 'kan' means 'can' or 'to be able to' (referring to ability or permission), 'vet' means 'to know' (referring to knowledge or information). For example: 'Jag kan simma' (I can swim) vs. 'Jag vet svaret' (I know the answer).

💡

Usage in Questions

When forming questions with 'kan', the verb usually comes before the subject. For example: 'Kan du hjälpa mig?' (Can you help me?). This is similar to English question structure.

語源

From Old Norse kunna ("to know, know how to, be able to"), from Proto-Germanic *kunnaną ("to know, be able"), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- ("to know"). Cognate with Icelandic kunna, Faroese kunna, Norwegian kunne, Danish kunne, English can, German können, Dutch kunnen, Gothic 𐌚𐍂𐌰𐌼 (fram), Latin gnoscere, Ancient Greek γιγνώσκω (gignṓskō), Sanskrit जानाति (jānāti), Old Irish gnin, Old Church Slavonic знати (znati), Russian знать (znatʹ).

文化的な背景

The Swedish word 'kan' (to be able to/can) is a fundamental modal verb used across all registers of speech and writing. It is essential for expressing possibility, ability, and permission. In Swedish culture, directness and clarity are often valued in communication, and 'kan' contributes to this by allowing for straightforward expressions of what is achievable or permissible. It is frequently used in everyday interactions, from asking if someone 'kan' help with a task to discussing what one 'kan' do during leisure time. Unlike some other languages, Swedish modal verbs like 'kan' do not change with the subject pronoun (e.g., 'jag kan,' 'du kan,' 'han kan'), which simplifies its usage and makes it a very common and accessible word for learners. Its prevalence reflects a practical and often understated communication style, focusing on what is possible or within one's capacity without excessive embellishment.

覚え方のコツ

Think of a 'can' of soda. If you have a can, you 'can' drink from it. So, 'kan' means 'can' or 'to be able to'.

よくある質問

4 問

'Kan' is a Swedish modal auxiliary verb that primarily means 'can' or 'to be able to' in English. It expresses ability, possibility, or permission. It is one of the most common verbs in Swedish and is used in a wide variety of contexts to indicate that something is achievable, allowed, or plausible. Understanding its basic meaning is crucial for forming fundamental sentences in Swedish.

Unlike many Swedish verbs, 'kan' is an irregular modal verb and does not conjugate in the typical way. It remains the same in the present tense for all persons and numbers (jag kan, du kan, han/hon/den/det kan, vi kan, ni kan, de kan). In the past tense (preteritum), it becomes 'kunde' (could). It does not have an imperative form, and its supine and past participle forms are not commonly used in the same way as regular verbs, often being replaced by constructions with 'kunna' (the infinitive).

Yes, 'kan' can certainly be used to express permission, similar to 'may' or 'can' in English. For instance, 'Du kan gå nu' means 'You can go now' or 'You may go now,' indicating that permission is granted. However, for more formal or polite requests for permission, 'får' (to get, to be allowed to) is often preferred, as in 'Får jag gå?' (May I go?). 'Kan' generally implies a more general sense of possibility or ability that also extends to permission.

'Kan' appears in many common Swedish phrases. For example, 'Vad kan jag göra för dig?' means 'What can I do for you?' 'Det kan hända' translates to 'It can happen' or 'It's possible.' 'Jag kan inte hjälpa det' means 'I can't help it.' Another common expression is 'Kan du vara snäll och...?' which means 'Could you please...?' showcasing its use in polite requests. These examples demonstrate the versatility and frequent use of 'kan' in everyday Swedish communication.

自分をテスト

fill blank

Jag ____ tala svenska.

正解！ おしい！ 正解:
fill blank

____ du hjälpa mig?

正解！ おしい！ 正解:
fill blank

Vi ____ inte komma idag.

正解！ おしい！ 正解:

スコア： /3

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