Maten kan vara ätbar efter bäst före-datumet.

to be

Breakdown of Maten kan vara ätbar efter bäst före-datumet.

• maten: the food
• efter: after
• kunna: may

Questions & Answers about Maten kan vara ätbar efter bäst före-datumet.

Why is it maten and not just mat?

Maten is the definite form of mat, so it means the food.

In Swedish, the definite article is often added as an ending:

• mat = food
• maten = the food

In this sentence, Swedish uses the food in a general sense, where English might also say just food:

• Maten kan vara ätbar ... = Food / The food can be edible ...

This kind of generic definite form is very common in Swedish.

What does kan vara mean, exactly?

Kan means can / may, and vara means be.

Together, kan vara means:

• can be
• may be
• might be, depending on context

So:

• Maten kan vara ätbar = The food may still be edible

A useful grammar point: after a modal verb like kan, the next verb stays in the infinitive:

• kan vara
• kan äta
• kan komma

You do not add att here.