Modal verbs: can, want
Expressing ability and desire using tud and akar with infinitive.
Say what you can and cannot do. Express wants and desires with akar.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Tudok gitározni.
I can play guitar.
Akarunk moziba menni.
We want to go to the cinema.
Nem tudok autót vezetni.
I cannot drive a car.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Modal Verbs: tud (can) and akar (want)
| Person | tud (can) | akar (want) |
|---|---|---|
| én | tudok | akarok |
| te | tudsz | akarsz |
| ő | tud | akar |
| mi | tudunk | akarunk |
| ti | tudtok | akartok |
| ők | tudnak | akarnak |
Follow with infinitive (-ni): Tudok úszni. (I can swim.) Akarok menni. (I want to go.)
Forgetting the -ni infinitive suffix: 'Tudok úszik' is wrong, say 'Tudok úszni'. Conjugating the infinitive: the second verb never changes.
Common Error Patterns
Omitting the -ni infinitive suffix after modal verbs
Incorrectly conjugating both the modal and the infinitive
Tudok gitározni.
I can play guitar.
Tud + infinitive expresses learned ability.
Akarunk moziba menni.
We want to go to the cinema.
Akar conjugates like regular -ik verbs, then infinitive follows.
Nem tudok autót vezetni.
I cannot drive a car.
Negation: nem + tud, the infinitive stays the same.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises