Breakdown of När kan vi läsa nästa kapitel?
vi
we
läsa
to read
kunna
to be able to, can
nästa
next
när
when
kapitlet
the chapter
Questions & Answers about När kan vi läsa nästa kapitel?
Why is it nästa kapitel and not nästa kapitlet since English says "the" next chapter?
In Swedish, the word nästa (next) always takes the indefinite form of the noun that follows it. Even though it translates to "the next" in English, you must leave the noun in its basic, indefinite form. That is why it is nästa kapitel and not nästa kapitlet.
Why is the word order kan vi instead of vi kan?
This sentence follows the V2 (verb-second) rule. Because it starts with the question word när (when), the verb kan (can) must take the second position in the sentence. The subject vi (we) has to swap places and come right after the verb.
Why is the verb läsa in the infinitive form instead of the present tense läser?
The verb läsa (to read) is used together with the modal verb kan (can). In Swedish, just like in English, a modal verb is always followed by the infinitive (dictionary) form of the main verb, without using att (to).
How do we know if kapitel is singular or plural here?
Kapitel is an ett-word ending in a consonant, which means its singular and plural indefinite forms look exactly the same (ett kapitel, flera kapitel). While nästa kapitel could technically mean "the next chapters", the context of reading a book usually tells us it means the single "next chapter".
Learn När kan vi läsa nästa kapitel and more in Swedish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free