High-frequency Dutch verb · original speaking practice
Dutch verb kunnen: can / to be able to
Use kunnen for ability, possibility and many practical requests. The content verb normally stays as an infinitive near the end of the main clause.
Conjugation anchors to retrieve
Present
ik kan
jij/u kunt
hij/zij kan
wij/zij kunnen
Simple past
singular kon
plural konden
Perfect reference
heb gekund
Learn the auxiliary and verb material inside a complete message.
Kunt u is a common polite request frame, but possibility is not permission. Use mogen when the question is whether an action is allowed.
Six original speaking examples
Ik kan morgen langer werken.
I can work longer tomorrow.
Kunt u dat herhalen?
Can you repeat that?
Zij kan goed Nederlands spreken.
She can speak Dutch well.
Gisteren kon ik niet komen.
Yesterday I could not come.
We hebben niet eerder kunnen bellen.
We could not call earlier.
Kunnen we de afspraak verplaatsen?
Can we move the appointment?
Four useful kunnen chunks
kunnen helpen
to be able to help
niet kunnen komen
to be unable to come
iets kunnen uitleggen
to be able to explain something
zou kunnen
could / might
Change one person, time and object in every chunk. Then place it inside a response that states why the information matters or what the listener should do next.
Original dialogue model
- Speaker A: Kun je vrijdag werken?
- Speaker B: Ja, ik kan tot drie uur werken.
- Speaker A: Kon je gisteren niet?
- Speaker B: Nee, toen kon ik geen opvang regelen.
- Speaker A: Heb je later nog kunnen bellen?
- Speaker B: Ja, ik heb de planner gesproken.
Retell the dialogue without reading, then move it to another setting. Preserve the target verb family while changing names, times and decisions so recall is flexible rather than memorized.
A retrieval plan from A2 to B2
A2
Use one present anchor and a concrete time or place detail.
B1
Connect a past or perfect event to its result and next action.
B2
Vary tense, clause order and collocation while preserving the intended nuance.
Correct the message in this order
- Check that kunnen expresses the intended meaning rather than an English look-alike.
- Check the finite form against the subject and timeline.
- Check required auxiliary, participle, infinitive or separable material.
- Check that the object, recipient or complement makes the message specific.
Four recording drills
- Round 1: Say four present-tense messages with different subjects.
- Round 2: Report one finished event in simple past and perfect form.
- Round 3: Use all four chunks with new personal details.
- Round 4: Rebuild the dialogue in a new setting without reading.
Transcribe only the target sentence after recording. Name one form, meaning or collocation correction, then repeat once. Do not restart a complete answer for a harmless accent variation.
- I chose kunnen for the intended meaning.
- The finite form agrees with the subject.
- The timeline is explicit enough for the listener.
- No required final verb material disappears.
- The sentence leads to a useful response or next step.
Frequently asked questions
Should I memorize the whole table?
No. Retrieve a few high-frequency subject forms inside complete messages, then expand when those forms remain stable under speaking pressure.
Is the perfect reference always the only possible construction?
No. Modal, passive, double-infinitive and regional constructions can require more detail. This page prioritizes everyday speaking anchors, not exhaustive grammar.
Are these official exam questions?
No. All examples and dialogues are original supplementary practice. Use official sources for current exam requirements.
Use kunnen inside a recorded answer
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