In Icelandic, the verb kunna typically means "to know how to" do something. However, when you combine kunna with the infinitive marker að and another verb in the infinitive, it expresses possibility or speculation, translating to "might" or "may".
Here is the present tense conjugation of kunna:
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | kann | kunnum |
| 2nd | kannt | kunnið |
| 3rd | kann | kunna |
When theorizing about wildlife, this structure is perfect for stating what an animal might do:
| The predator might roam here in the evenings. | Rándýrið kann að flökka hér á kvöldin. |
| The herd might follow the migration pattern. | Hjörðin kann að fylgja göngumynstrinu. |
Notice that kunna is conjugated to match the subject, while the main action verb stays in the infinitive after að:
| We might find the tracking device if we check the camera trap. | Við kunnum að finna staðsetningartækið ef við skoðum myndavélagildruna. |
| The camera trap might show us who walked on the trail. | Myndavélagildran kann að sýna okkur hver gekk á slóðinni. |
| Some researcher might find the footprint. | Einhver rannsóknarmaður kann að finna sporið. |
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