Breakdown of Konan kann að prjóna og tala spænsku.
og
and
konan
the woman
tala
to speak
að
to (infinitive marker)
kunna
to know how to
prjóna
to knit
spænska
Spanish
Questions & Answers about Konan kann að prjóna og tala spænsku.
Why do we need the word að after kann?
The verb kunna (to know how to) requires the infinitive marker að before the next verb. This is different from some other helper verbs you might know, like vilja (to want) or geta (to be able to), which connect directly to the next verb without að.
Could I use getur instead of kann in this sentence?
You usually wouldn't. While both can translate to "can" in English, kunna is used specifically for learned skills and knowledge, like knitting or speaking a language. Geta is used for physical ability or having the opportunity to do something.
Why isn't there another að before tala?
When you connect two verbs with og (and) that share the same helping verb, you don't need to repeat the infinitive marker að. Saying að prjóna og tala is perfectly natural, just like saying "to knit and speak" in English instead of "to knit and to speak".
Why is the word for Spanish spelled spænsku here?
The dictionary form of the language is spænska. However, because it is the direct object receiving the action of the verb tala (to speak), it changes to the accusative case, becoming spænsku. Feminine nouns that end in -a very often change to -u in the accusative case.
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