StudyNorwegian•Grammar / Your Norwegian journey
A1Verbs and tenses

Modal verbs

Express ability, necessity and plans with modal verbs.

Bokmål · nb-NO
GRAMMATIKK · BOKMÅL

Modal verbs

After kan, må and skal use an infinitive without å: kan hjelpe, må vente.

The rule, step by step

  1. Kan expresses ability or possibility, må necessity, and skal often a plan or obligation.
  2. A modal takes an infinitive without å. The modal is the finite verb for word order.
  3. Negation can come between them: Jeg kan ikke komme. Start a question with the modal: Kan du komme?

Sentence pattern

kan / må / skal + infinitive (without å)

Compare forms and usage
BokmålMeaning or use
kan kommecan come
må gåmust go
skal jobbeis going to work
kan ikke kommecannot come

Everyday examples

Example 1

Jeg kan snakke norsk.

I can speak Norwegian.

Example 2

Du må vente her.

You must wait here.

Example 3

Vi må kjøpe mat før butikken stenger.

We must buy food before the shop closes.

A common error or a difference in meaning

Form to review

Jeg kan å snakke norsk.

Correct form for the intended meaning

Jeg kan snakke norsk.

After kan, use snakke without å. Kan carries the finite form.

Put the rule into practice

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Personal review progress on this device. It does not complete a reading lesson or award XP.

VELG

Choose the form that fits the rule and meaning explained in this lesson.

FYLL INN

Complete the gap using the appropriate form of the given word.

Given word: snakke

Jeg kan _____ norsk.

SETT I REKKEFØLGE

Rebuild the example, starting with “Jeg”: I can speak Norwegian.

…

Continue with the same subject

Present tense A1Past tense A2Plans with skal A2Irregular past tense A2

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