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Questions & Answers about Kan du anbefale en bok?
What does kan mean in this sentence?
Kan is the present tense of å kunne, meaning to be able to or can. Here it’s used to politely ask if someone is able (or willing) to recommend a book.
Why does the sentence start with the verb kan instead of du kan?
In Norwegian yes/no questions, you invert subject and verb (Verb–Subject order). So instead of du kan, you say kan du to form a question.
Why isn’t there an å before anbefale?
After a modal verb like kan, the next verb stays in the infinitive without the marker å. So you say kan anbefale, not kan å anbefale.
What part of speech is anbefale and what does it mean?
Anbefale is a verb in its infinitive form, meaning to recommend. You can use it with things (anbefale en bok), people (anbefale en venn), or actions.
How do you pronounce anbefale?
It has four syllables: an-be-fa-le.
Approximate pronunciation in English: AHN-beh-FAH-leh, with the main stress on the third syllable.
Why is it en bok and not et bok or just bok?
Norwegian nouns have gender. Bok is a masculine/feminine noun and takes the indefinite article en. Neuter nouns take et, and some dialects even distinguish feminine ei.
How can I say “Can you recommend a book to me?” more explicitly?
You can add til meg or use the dative pronoun:
- Kan du anbefale en bok til meg?
- Kan du anbefale meg en bok?
Both are common and make it clear the recommendation is for you.
Is there a more polite or formal way to ask this?
Yes. You can use the conditional kunne or add vær så snill:
- Kunne du anbefale en bok? (Could you recommend a book?)
- Kan du være så snill å anbefale en bok? (Can you please recommend a book?)
In very formal contexts, use De instead of du: Kunne De anbefale en bok?
What’s the difference between anbefale and foreslå when talking about recommendations?
Both mean to suggest/recommend, but:
- Anbefale implies personal approval or endorsement.
- Foreslå is more neutral, like “to propose” or “to put forward.”
In everyday speech they’re often interchangeable for books, films, etc.
Can I say Vil du anbefale en bok? instead of Kan du anbefale en bok?
Yes, but there’s a subtle nuance:
- Kan du… asks if the person is able or willing (more polite, common).
- Vil du… asks about willingness or desire (Do you want to recommend a book?).
For polite requests, kan du (or kunne du) is preferred.