……
Questions & Answers about Hij kan prima fietsen.
What is the function of kan in this sentence?
Kan is the 3rd person singular present tense of the modal verb kunnen, which means to be able to or can. It expresses ability—here, that he is able to cycle.
Why is fietsen placed at the end and why isn’t there a te before it?
With Dutch modal verbs like kunnen, you follow directly with an infinitive without te. In main clauses the finite verb (kan) stays in the second position (after the subject Hij), and any non-finite verbs (here fietsen) move to the very end.
What does prima mean here, and why is it used instead of goed?
Prima is an adverb meaning great, just fine, or very well. It’s a little stronger and more conversational than goed (“well”), so Hij kan prima fietsen suggests he cycles really well, even effortlessly.
Could fietsen in this sentence be a noun (cycling) instead of a verb?
No. In Hij kan prima fietsen it’s the infinitive verb to cycle. To use it as a noun cycling, you’d need the article: het fietsen.
Why doesn’t fietsen take a direct object in this example?
Fietsen is intransitive when it means to ride a bicycle, so it doesn’t require a direct object. The verb simply describes the action of cycling.
What general Dutch word-order rule does this sentence illustrate?
In Dutch main clauses, the finite verb (kan) sits in second position (after the subject Hij), and all infinitives (fietsen) go to the end. Other elements like the adverb (prima) occupy the “middle field” between them.
How would you turn this statement into a yes/no question?
Invert the subject and finite verb: Kan hij prima fietsen?
More from this lesson
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Dutch grammar?”
Dutch grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning DutchMaster Dutch — from Hij kan prima fietsen to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions