Breakdown of Kann das Kind Klavier spielen?
das Kind
the child
spielen
to play
können
can / to be able to
das Klavier
the piano
Questions & Answers about Kann das Kind Klavier spielen?
Why is spielen at the very end of the sentence?
This is the sentence bracket. When you use a modal verb like können (here as kann), it takes the main verb spot, and the second action verb (spielen) gets pushed to the very end of the sentence in its basic dictionary form (infinitive).
Why is the verb kann and not something like könnt?
Modal verbs like können (to be able to) are irregular. For the third-person singular subject das Kind (the child), the correct form is kann. Notice that it loses the umlaut (the two dots over the o) that the infinitive form has.
Why isn't there a word for "the" before Klavier?
In German, when you talk about playing a musical instrument or a sport, you usually do not use an article. So instead of playing "the" piano, Germans just say Klavier spielen.
How do we know this is a question just by looking at the word order?
Because the conjugated verb Kann is in the very first position. Just like in English, putting the verb before the subject (das Kind) turns a regular statement into a yes/no question.