Mastering the German Modal Verb “Können”

When it comes to expressing ability, “können” is a fundamental verb in the German language. Whether you’re talking about skills, permissions, or possibilities, mastering the conjugation of “können” is essential for clear communication.

In this article, we’ll guide you through a quick and engaging overview of conjugating the German modal verb “können”. From the present to the past and the future, we’ll cover it all, ensuring you can confidently talk about what you can do in German.

“Können” in the Present Tense (Präsens)

Understanding “können” in the present tense allows you to express your abilities and permissions.

Here are some practical examples:

Ich kann Deutsch sprechen. → I can speak German.

Kannst du mir helfen? → Can you help me?

Er kann gut kochen. → He can cook well.

Wir können heute Abend essen gehen. → We can eat out tonight.

Könnt ihr das machen? → Can you guys do that?

Since “können” is a modal verb, its present tense conjugation is irregular. Memorize its forms:

Präteritum
ich kannI can
du kannstyou (informal) can
er/sie/es kannhe/she/it can
wir könnenwe can
ihr könntyou guys can
sie/Sie könnenthey/you (formal) can

“Können” in the Present Perfect (Perfekt)

Ready to discuss abilities or permissions in the past?

Let’s explore “können” in the present perfect tense, which uses the auxiliary verb “haben” and the past participle “gekonnt”.

Examples:

Gestern habe ich meine Matheklausur geschrieben, aber ich habe nichts gekonnt. → Yesterday, I took my math exam but I couldn’t do/solve anything.

Meine Nachbarin wollte ihren Hund ins Tierheim bringen, aber letztendlich hat sie es nicht gekonnt. → My neighbor wanted to take her dog to the animal shelter, but in the end, she couldn’t do it.

When it comes to using the modal verb “können” in the present perfect tense, it is common to combine it with two additional verbs. In these cases, you would use the conjugated form of “können” along with two infinitive forms.

Sie hat in den Schuhen gut tanzen können. → She was able to dance well with the shoes.

Wir haben das Problem lösen können. → We were able to solve the problem.

Anja hat es nicht übers Herz bringen können, den Hund abzugeben. → Anja couldn’t bring herself to give the dog away.

Let’s take a look at the conjugation table of the modal verb “können” in the present perfect tense:

Perfekt
ich habe gekonntI have been able to
du hast gekonntyou (informal) have been able to
er/sie/es hat gekonnthe/she/it has been able to
wir haben gekonntwe have been able to
ihr habt gekonntyou guys have been able to
sie/Sie haben gekonntthey/you (formal) have been able to

“Können” in the Simple Past (Präteritum)

When it comes to the verb “können,” the simple past tense proves to be widely used in both spoken and written German. It is often the go-to choice, even more so than the present perfect tense.

Examples:

Ich konnte deinen Ring nicht finden. → I couldn’t find your ring.

Konnte er das verstehen? → Could he understand that?

Sabrina und Manuel konnten gestern nicht kommen. → Sabrina and Manuel couldn’t come yesterday.

You will need to memorize the conjugated forms of “können” in the simple past:

Präteritum
ich konnteI could
du konntestyou (informal) could
er/sie/es konntehe/she/it could
wir konntenwe could
ihr konntetyou guys could
sie/Sie konntenthey/you (formal) could

“Können” in the Future I Tense (Futur I)

To talk about future abilities or possibilities, use the auxiliary verb “werden” with “können”. Most of the time, you would use the auxiliary verb with two additional verbs in the infinitive form.

Examples:

Ich werde morgen lange schlafen können. → I will be able to sleep in tomorrow.

Wirst du das machen können? → Will you be able to do that?

Sie wird das Buch lesen können. → She will be able to read the book.

“Können” in the Subjunctive Present (Konjunktiv II in der Gegenwart)

Use the subjunctive present to discuss hypothetical abilities or polite requests.

Examples:

Ich könnte heute Abend kommen. → I could come tonight.

Könntest du mir helfen? → Could you help me?

Wir könnten das gemeinsam machen. → We could do that together.

Let’s review the conjugation of können in the subjunctive present:

Konjunktiv II in der Gegenwart
ich könnteI could
du könntestyou (informal) could
er/sie/es könntehe/she/it could
wir könntenwe could
ihr könntetyou guys could
sie/Sie könntenthey/you (formal) could

If you want to know more about how to ask polite questions using the modal verb “können,” check out Jenny’s video!

“Können” in the Subjunctive Past (Konjunktiv II in der Vergangenheit)

To discuss past abilities or things you would have been capable of, you can use the subjunctive past. This requires conjugating the verb “haben” in the subjunctive present and adding the past participle of “können”. It is also common to combine the subjunctive of “haben” with two infinitive forms.

Examples:

Hättest du das wirklich gekonnt? → Could you really have done that?

Ich hätte das machen können. → I could have done that.

Wir hätten das Problem lösen können. → We could have solved the problem.

Let’s look at the conjugation in the subjunctive past:

Konjunktiv II in der Vergangenheit
ich hätte gekonntI could have been able to
du hättest gekonntyou (informal) could have been able to
er/sie/es hätte gekonnthe/she/it could have been able to
wir hätten gekonntwe could have been able to
ihr hättet gekonntyou guys could have been able to
sie/Sie hätten gekonntthey/you (formal) could have been able to

“Können” in Subordinate Clauses

In subordinate clauses, “können” behaves like other modal verbs, with the conjugated form at the end.

Examples:

Ich weiß, dass er singen kann. → I know that he can sing.

Sie sagt, dass sie morgen kommen kann. → She says that she can come tomorrow.

Common Mistakes When Using “Können”

Irregular Conjugation

“Können” is an irregular verb, so its forms must be memorized. Misconjugating it, such as saying “Ich könnt” instead of “Ich kann,” can sound incorrect.

Word Order in Subordinate Clauses

Learners sometimes place “können” incorrectly in subordinate clauses. Remember, the conjugated verb goes to the end: “Ich weiß, dass ich es kann” (I know that I can do it).

Final Thoughts

The German verb “können” allows you to discuss abilities and possibilities. As a modal verb, it requires memorization of its different forms across tenses.

No worries, though! Practice makes perfect. With regular practice and the right resources, you’ll soon be confidently using “können” to express your abilities and possibilities in German.

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