Questions & Answers about Kan du skriva ut brevet?
Why is skriva ut used to mean 'print' when skriva means 'write'?
In Swedish, skriva ut is a particle verb that specifically means to print from a computer or machine. While it literally translates to 'write out', it is the standard everyday term for printing documents.
Can I separate skriva and ut and say 'Kan du skriva brevet ut'?
No, Swedish particle verbs generally stay together. Unlike in English where you can say 'print the letter out', in Swedish you must keep the verb and its particle together. The object (brevet) must come directly after ut.
Why is the verb skriva used here instead of the present tense skriver?
Because it follows the modal verb kan (can). Just like in English, whenever you use a modal verb, the main verb that follows it must be in its infinitive (base) form. That is why we use skriva here instead of skriver.
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