The modal verb: können
The modal verb können means "can" or "to be able to." Notice that its vowel changes from ö to a in the singular forms, and the ich and er/sie/es forms are identical.
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| ich | kann |
| du | kannst |
| er/sie/es | kann |
| wir | können |
| ihr | könnt |
| sie/Sie | können |
The Sentence Bracket (Satzklammer)
When you use a modal verb, a special word order rule applies: the sentence bracket. The conjugated modal verb takes the second position, and the main action verb is pushed to the very end of the sentence in its infinitive (dictionary) form.
| I can speak German. | Ich kann Deutsch sprechen. |
Everything else—like objects, time words, or adverbs like gut (well) and perfekt (perfectly)—is bracketed between the two verbs.
| She can speak English well. | Sie kann gut Englisch sprechen. |
| My father cannot cook today. | Mein Vater kann heute nicht kochen. |
| Anna can play the guitar perfectly. | Anna kann perfekt Gitarre spielen. |
If you are asking a yes/no question, the modal verb moves to the beginning, but the main verb stays parked at the end.
| Can you speak German? | Können Sie Deutsch sprechen? |
| Can you understand English? | Kannst du Englisch verstehen? |
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