Welcome to Dutch verbs, episode 4: kunnen, which means can, to be able to. In Dutch it is spelled:
k. u. n. n. e. n.
Kunnen is a modal verb - it always pairs with another verb in the infinitive. The English equivalent is 'can' or 'to be able to'. Important: in Dutch, the main verb shifts to the end of the sentence.
Present tense. Listen and repeat.
Ik kan. — I can.
Jij kunt. — You can.
Or also jij kan - both are accepted.
Hij kan. — He can.
Wij kunnen. — We can.
Jullie kunnen. — You all can.
Zij kunnen. — They can.
One more time, straight through.
Ik kan. Jij kunt. Hij kan. Wij kunnen. Jullie kunnen. Zij kunnen. — Past tense: kon for singular, konden for plural.
Ik kon. Jij kon. Hij kon. — I could, you could, he could.
Wij konden. Jullie konden. Zij konden. — We could, you all could, they could.
Now three example sentences.
Ik kan Nederlands spreken. — I can speak Dutch.
Notice spreken at the end - that's the infinitive, pushed to the end by the modal.
Kun je me helpen? — Can you help me? Same pattern - helpen at the end.
Wij konden niet komen. — We couldn't come.
Past tense plural, konden, plus the negative niet.
That is episode 4. The verb kunnen, meaning can, to be able to. Forms to remember: kan, kunt, kunnen, kon, konden.
Today's Brueghel proverb.
Met het hoofd tegen de muur lopen.
Met het hoofd tegen de muur lopen. — Literally: to run with one's head against the wall.
Meaning: to attempt the impossible - banging one's head against a wall. Example:
Hem proberen te overtuigen is met het hoofd tegen de muur lopen.
Trying to convince him is like banging your head against a wall.
Fijne dag nog!
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