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Norwegian · A2

Modalverb (modal verbs)

kan, må, vil, skal, bør and får.

12 minutes · A free lesson from A2: Hverdagen (everyday life) · Roman and Urdu pronunciation guides and English meanings are shown under each phrase

Modal verbs

kanSay: kanکانMeans: cancan, be able toJeg kan snakke litt norsk.Say: yai kan snakuh lit noshk.یائی کان سناکَ لِت نوشک.Means: I can speak a little Norwegian.
måSay: mohموMeans: must, have tomust, have toJeg må jobbe i morgen.Say: yai moh yobuh ee morn.یائی مو یوبَ ای مورن.Means: I have to work tomorrow.
vilSay: vilوِلMeans: want towant toVi vil reise til Tromsø.Say: vee vil raisuh teel tromsoe.وی وِل رائسَ تیل ترومسوے.Means: We want to travel to Tromsø.
skalSay: skalسکالMeans: am / is / are going toam going to (a plan)Jeg skal på kurs i kveld.Say: yai skal poh kush ee kvehll.یائی سکال پو کُش ای کوےلل.Means: I'm going to a course this evening.
børSay: boerبوےرMeans: should, ought toshould, ought toDu bør gå til legen.Say: doo boer goh teel lehguhn.دُو بوےر گو تیل لےگَن.Means: You should go to the doctor.
fårSay: fohrفورMeans: may, am allowed to; getmay, be allowed toFår jeg låne pennen din?Say: fohr yai lohnuh pehnnuhn deen?فور یائی لونَ پےننَن دین?Means: May I borrow your pen?

The modal verb comes in second place, and the main verb follows in the infinitive with no å in front of it: Jeg må jobbe. · Kan du hjelpe meg?

Jeg må jobbe.Say yai moh yobuh.یائی مو یوبَ.Means: I have to work.
Kan du hjelpe meg?Say kan doo yehlpuh mai?کان دُو یےلپَ مائی?Means: Can you help me?

Quick check: Choose the correct sentence.

  1. Jeg kan å svømme.
  2. Jeg kan svømme.
  3. Jeg svømme kan.
Show the answer

B: Jeg kan svømme.

Lesson quiz

Check what you have learned. Choose an answer to see whether it is right, and why.

Quick check: What does “Du bør gå til legen” mean?

  1. You should go to the doctor.
  2. You must go to the doctor at once.
  3. You may go to the doctor.
Show the answer

A: You should go to the doctor. — bør means should or ought to.

Quick check: Choose the modal verb for a plan: “Jeg ___ på kurs i kveld.”

  1. bør
  2. skal
  3. får
Show the answer

B: skal — skal is for something you have planned.

Quick check: What does “Får jeg låne pennen din?” mean?

  1. Can you lend me some money?
  2. Do you have a pen?
  3. May I borrow your pen?
Show the answer

C: May I borrow your pen? — får means may or be allowed to, and å låne is to borrow.

Quick check: Choose the correct sentence.

  1. Vi vil reise til Tromsø.
  2. Vi vil å reise til Tromsø.
  3. Vi reise vil til Tromsø.
Show the answer

A: Vi vil reise til Tromsø. — A modal verb takes the infinitive without å, and the modal stays in second place.

Practise: talking about your everyday life
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