Learn Hardcore Russian: Ты можешь взять любой карандаш.

можешь is the 2nd-person singular present form of the verb мочь (“to be able to”). It means “you can” or “you are able to.” Here it expresses that the person addressed (ты) has the ability or permission to do something.

Why is the verb взять in the infinitive after можешь?

In Russian, modal verbs like мочь are followed by a bare infinitive. So after можешь you must use взять (infinitive “to take”), not a conjugated form.

What’s the difference between взять and брать, and why use взять here?

взять is the perfective infinitive (“take once, complete action”), while брать is the imperfective infinitive (“take repeatedly or in progress”). Using можешь взять implies you may complete the action of taking one pencil. If you said Ты можешь брать любой карандаш, it would imply an ongoing or repeated action (“you may keep taking pencils over time”).

Why are любой and карандаш in what looks like the nominative case even though they’re objects?

They’re actually in the accusative case (the case of direct objects). Masculine inanimate nouns have an accusative form identical to the nominative, so карандаш stays the same. Its modifier любой also takes the form of masculine nominative/accusative.

What’s the difference between любой карандаш and какой-нибудь карандаш?

любой карандаш means “any pencil at all” (the listener may choose from the entire set without restriction). какой-нибудь карандаш is more like “some pencil” or “any old pencil,” often used when you just need one unspecified pencil, sometimes with a nuance of “whichever is available.”

Can I drop the subject Ты and still be understood?

Yes. Russian is a pro-drop language. The verb можешь alone already shows 2nd-person singular. You can say Можешь взять любой карандаш and it remains perfectly natural. Adding Ты puts slight extra emphasis on “you.”

How do I pronounce можешь, and where is the stress?

Pronounce it [ˈmoʐɨʂ]. The stress is on the first syllable: МО-жешь.

Could I use можно instead of можешь to give permission?

Yes. Можно взять любой карандаш is an impersonal permission construction meaning “It is allowed to take any pencil.” It’s more neutral and doesn’t specify who is allowed—it could be you, me, or anyone.

Can I change the word order to Любой карандаш ты можешь взять?

Yes. Russian word order is flexible. Placing Любой карандаш at the front emphasizes “any pencil” (as the topic). The meaning stays the same, but the focus shifts slightly to the fact that all pencils are included.