Kan du bevise påstanden?

you

Breakdown of Kan du bevise påstanden?

• kan: can
• påstanden: the claim; assertion
• bevise: to prove

Questions & Answers about Kan du bevise påstanden?

Why does the sentence start with Kan?

Because this is a yes/no question in Norwegian. In main clauses, Norwegian often puts the verb first to form this kind of question.

• Statement: Du kan bevise påstanden. = You can prove the claim.
• Question: Kan du bevise påstanden? = Can you prove the claim?

This is similar to English You can... → Can you...

Why is it Kan du and not Du kan?

For the same reason: Norwegian changes the word order in yes/no questions.

• Du kan ... = statement
• Kan du ...? = question

So Kan du bevise påstanden? literally follows the pattern Can you prove the claim?

Why is there no å before bevise?

Because after a modal verb like kan (can), Norwegian normally uses the bare infinitive, without å.

So you say:

• Kan du bevise påstanden?
• not Kan du å bevise påstanden?

Other common modal verbs work the same way:

• vil = will / want to
• skal = shall / will / am going to
• må = must
• bør = should

Examples:

• Jeg kan svømme. = I can swim.
• Hun må gå. = She must go.