Modal Verbs
Modal Verbs
Kan (can), vill (want), and måste (must) unlock a huge range of sentences on their own — and, true to the last lesson's pattern, each has just one form for every person too.
Grammar Comparison
Grammar Comparison
Modals attach directly to an infinitive — no "to" needed
Jag vill äta.
I want to eat.
Kan, vill, and måste are followed straight by another verb in its infinitive form, with nothing in between — jag vill äta is literally "I want eat", with the infinitive äta already doing the job English hands to a separate word "to".
Modals don't change for person either
jag kan, du kan, hon kan — all identical
I can, you can, she can
Just like ordinary present-tense verbs from the last lesson, modal verbs have a single form for every subject: kan is kan whether it's jag, du, or hon. This makes modals some of the most useful words you'll learn — one form, endless combinations with any infinitive you already know.
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
- English
- can
- English
- want to
- English
- must
- English
- will / shall (plan or intention)
- English
- I can swim
- English
- I want to eat
- English
- I must go
- English
- to swim
- English
- to go / to walk