German for English speakers Beach · Lesson 2

Can you? Can't you?

German modal verbs — Kannst du schwimmen? (Can you swim?) — and the nuance Ich kann schwimmen, aber gerade nicht (I can swim, but not right now).

Conversation

  1. Yennifer Yennifer

    Kannst du schwimmen?

    Can you swim?

  2. Rocky Rocky

    I..Ich kann, aber JETZT nicht.

    I-I-I am able to swim, but NOW I can't

  3. Yennifer Yennifer

    Warum denn nicht?

    Why can't you?

    Tip: <Warum denn nicht> = lit. why then not? This is a typical response to use when asking someone when they did not or do not perform a certain action.

  4. Rocky Rocky

    W..weil es Winter ist. Es ist noch nicht warm genug dafür.

    B-b-because it is winter: it's not hot enough!

    Tip: With words like "weil" und "dass", the verb has to go to the end of the sentence.

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

Können for ability in German?

Können + infinitive: Ich kann schwimmen, kannst du tanzen, wir können singen. Verb stays infinitive at the end of the clause.

What is gerade in German?

'Right now' / 'just now'. Gerade nicht = 'not right now'. Ich esse gerade = 'I'm eating right now'.

Common German sports verbs?

Schwimmen (swim), laufen (run), tanzen (dance), Ski fahren (ski), Tennis spielen (play tennis), reiten (ride).

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