Questions & Answers about Kan du peka på stationen på kartan?
Why does the sentence start with Kan du?
Because this is a yes/no question in Swedish.
- Du kan peka på stationen på kartan. = You can point to the station on the map.
- Kan du peka på stationen på kartan? = Can you point to the station on the map?
In Swedish main clauses, the finite verb usually comes in the second position. In a yes/no question, the verb often comes first, so kan moves before du.
What does kan mean here?
Kan is the present tense of kunna, which usually means can / be able to.
Here, Kan du ... ? is a very common way to make a request:
- Kan du hjälpa mig? = Can you help me?
- Kan du peka på stationen på kartan? = Can you point to the station on the map?
So it can express both ability and a polite request, just like English can.
Why are there two instances of på in the sentence?