Breakdown of Ich kann den Schrank nicht bewegen.
ich
I
nicht
not
können
can / to be able to
der Schrank
the cupboard / the closet
bewegen
to move (physically)
Questions & Answers about Ich kann den Schrank nicht bewegen.
How would I add an 'r-' word to say "I cannot move the cupboard out"?
You would attach the 'r-' word (like raus) to the infinitive verb as a separable prefix. Since the modal verb kann (can) pushes the main verb to the end of the sentence, the prefix stays attached to the infinitive: Ich kann den Schrank nicht rausbewegen.
Why is it den Schrank instead of der Schrank?
Schrank is a masculine noun (der Schrank). Because it is the direct object receiving the action (it is the thing being moved), it takes the accusative case, which changes der to den.
Why is nicht placed right before bewegen?
When you negate the overall action in a sentence, nicht usually goes at the end. However, because the modal verb kann already pushes the main verb (bewegen) to the very end of the sentence, nicht steps just in front of it.
Can I use bewegen to talk about moving my body or exercising?
Yes, but you must use it reflexively for that meaning. In this sentence, you are moving an external object (den Schrank). If you want to say "I need to move" (meaning getting some exercise), you would add a reflexive pronoun: Ich muss mich bewegen.
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