The Dutch verb "kunnen" means "can, to be able to" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "kunnen" across all 6 tenses. New to Dutch verbs? Start with the Dutch verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "kunnen" in the Present Tense
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ik | I | kan |
| jij/je | you (informal) | kunt |
| hij/zij/het | he/she/it | kan |
| wij/we | we | kunnen |
| jullie | you all | kunnen |
| zij/ze | they | kunnen |
Hij kan morgen niet komen.
He cannot come tomorrow.
How to Conjugate "kunnen" in the Simple Past Tense
Onvoltooid verleden tijd Completed actions in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ik | I | kon |
| jij/je | you (informal) | kon |
| hij/zij/het | he/she/it | kon |
| wij/we | we | konden |
| jullie | you all | konden |
| zij/ze | they | konden |
Hij kon heel goed piano spelen.
He could play the piano very well.
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Voltooid tegenwoordige tijd Completed actions with present relevance| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ik | I | heb gekund |
| jij/je | you (informal) | hebt gekund |
| hij/zij/het | he/she/it | heeft gekund |
| wij/we | we | hebben gekund |
| jullie | you all | hebben gekund |
| zij/ze | they | hebben gekund |
Hij heeft kunnen slapen.
He has been able to sleep.
How to Conjugate "kunnen" in the Past Perfect Tense
Voltooid verleden tijd Actions completed before another past action| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ik | I | had gekund |
| jij/je | you (informal) | had gekund |
| hij/zij/het | he/she/it | had gekund |
| wij/we | we | hadden gekund |
| jullie | you all | hadden gekund |
| zij/ze | they | hadden gekund |
Hij had kunnen slapen.
He had been able to sleep.
How to Conjugate "kunnen" in the Future Tense
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige toekomende tijd Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ik | I | zal kunnen |
| jij/je | you (informal) | zult kunnen |
| hij/zij/het | he/she/it | zal kunnen |
| wij/we | we | zullen kunnen |
| jullie | you all | zullen kunnen |
| zij/ze | they | zullen kunnen |
Hij zal het kunnen doen.
He will be able to do it.
How to Conjugate "kunnen" in the Conditional Tense
Onvoltooid verleden toekomende tijd Hypothetical situations and polite requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ik | I | zou kunnen |
| jij/je | you (informal) | zou kunnen |
| hij/zij/het | he/she/it | zou kunnen |
| wij/we | we | zouden kunnen |
| jullie | you all | zouden kunnen |
| zij/ze | they | zouden kunnen |
Hij zou kunnen helpen.
He would be able to help.
Frequently Asked Questions About "kunnen"
Is "kunnen" regular or irregular in Dutch?
"Kunnen" is an irregular Dutch verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "kunnen" mean in English?
The Dutch verb "kunnen" means "can, to be able to" in English.
How do you conjugate "kunnen" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd): ik → kan, jij/je → kunt, hij/zij/het → kan, wij/we → kunnen, jullie → kunnen, zij/ze → kunnen.
How many tenses does "kunnen" have in Dutch?
"Kunnen" is conjugated across 6 tenses in Dutch: Present, Simple Past, Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future, Conditional.
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