Kunnen

Table of contents

1 Dutch 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Modal verb 1.2.1 Conjugation

Dutch

Modal verb

1. can
2. to be able

...tense person...	Present (onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd)	Past (onvoltooid verleden tijd)	Past participle (voltooid deelwoord)
singular
ik	kan	kon	gekund
jij (je)/u	kan/kunt	kon	gekund
hij/zij (ze)/men	kan	kon	gekund
plural
wij (we)	kunnen	konden	gekund
jullie	kunnen	konden	gekund
zij (ze)	kunnen	konden	gekund

Present participle (onvoltooid deelwoord): kunnend, kunnende

Imperative (gebiedende wijs): kan

Notes

• The conjugation of this verb is very different to that of many Dutch verbs. Singular forms of kunnen are indentical stems with a change of vowel (u becoming a), plural forms of kunnen are conjugated in the way regular Dutch verbs are conjugated, and the past tense is conjugated in an irregular manner with the same vowel through the line.

In its conjugation this verb shows similarities with the Dutch verb mogen, and is more distantly related to the German varient of this verb: können.

• When the order of jij (or the unstressed form je) and kan is reversed, the vowel of the stem transfers back to its original one (u instead of a). Compare Jij kan (you are able) with Kun jij (are you able). A t is placed behind the stem when the polite form u is used (also in this case the vowel of the stem is u instead of a, as it is with the above-mentioned non-polite form), which makes Kunt u.