נאָך פּרטים

The Modal Verb קענען

Meaning

The verb קענען expresses the ability to do something.

Form

A. Present Tense

In the present tense, קענען is conjugated like all regular verbs (see lessons 2.2 and 2.3) except for the ער/זי/עס form. The ער/זי/עס form has no ending and is thus the same as the איך form.

B. קענען + infinitive

The conjugated form of קענען comes with an infinitive. Some sentence units may be placed between the conjugated verb קענען and the infinitive: the subject (איצט קענען מיר זען), an adverb (דאָס הינטל קען גוט כאַפּן) or נישט (see below).

קענען can also come with a noun – see ‏4.3 נאָך פּרטים.

C. Negative

The negative נישט comes after the conjugated verb and before the infinitive. If the subject or an adverb are placed between the conjugated verb and the infinitive, נישט comes after them. נישט usually comes right before the infinitive.

Note:

In a sentence like the one above with an adverb indicating manner, quality or quantity, נישט is more often placed before the adverb. In such a case, נישט negates the adverb, not the verb:

A general description of word order can be found in ‏5.3 נאָך פּרטים.