Lesson goal
In this lesson, you will get acquainted with the main modal verbs at A2 level: kan, må, vil, skal, bør. You will learn to build simple everyday phrases with a modal verb and an infinitive without å.
New vocabulary
kan — can, be able to
må — must, need to
vil — want to, intend to
skal — be going to, must, will
bør — should, ought to
å hjelpe — help
å vente — wait
å betale — pay
Useful phrases
Jeg kan hjelpe deg. — I can help you.
Du må vente her. — You must wait here.
Vi skal betale nå. — We are going to pay now.
Hun bør sove mer. — She should sleep more.
Jeg vil snakke med deg. — I want to talk to you.
Kan du hjelpe meg? — Can you help me?
Vi må gå nå. — We need to go now.
Skal jeg vente her? — Should I wait here?
Grammar
After the modal verbs kan, må, vil, skal, bør, the next verb is placed in the infinitive without å. This is the main pattern of the lesson: subject + modal verb + infinitive. For example: Jeg kan hjelpe, du må vente, vi skal betale. The modal verb shows the meaning: kan — possibility or ability, må — necessity, vil — desire, skal — plan, arrangement or near future, bør — advice. In a question, the modal verb usually comes first: Kan du komme? Negation is placed after the modal verb: Jeg kan ikke komme, du må ikke vente. You should not say kan å hjelpe or må å gå: after a modal verb, the particle å is not used.
Examples
Jeg kan hjelpe deg i dag. — I can help you today.
Du må vente litt. — You must wait a little.
Vi skal betale regningen nå. — We are going to pay the bill now.
Hun bør sove mer om natten. — She should sleep more at night.
Jeg vil kjøpe mat først. — I want to buy food first.
Kan dere komme i morgen? — Can you come tomorrow?
Han må jobbe i kveld. — He must work this evening.
Skal vi vente på bussen? — Should we wait for the bus?
De vil betale med kort. — They want to pay by card.
Du bør snakke med læreren. — You should talk to the teacher.
Jeg kan ikke hjelpe nå. — I cannot help now.
Vi må dra hjem. — We need to go home.