German course

Lesson 33 of 240

New here? This is lesson 33 of a free 240-lesson German course.

Start hereHow this works

Can I? in German

Priya is back at Bäckerei Krause on Fliederstraße. She wants the second chair at the corner table, and she needs to ask first.

Renate is at the counter. Anton already sits at that table, with a Milchkaffee he has not touched.

You will ask if you can, or if you may, then say yes, go ahead, that is fine, or no.

Darf ich asks permission. Kann ich can ask about ability, and people also use it to ask permission.

By the end of this lesson

Ask permission to do something and answer yes or no.

  • Kann ich ___?Can I ___?
  • Darf ich ___?May I ___?
  • Ja, das kannst du.Yes, you can.
  • Klar, mach ruhig.Sure, go ahead.
  • Das ist okay.That's okay.
  • Leider nein.I'm afraid not.

Scene — the second chair

The bakery is quiet after the morning rush. Renate is behind the counter. Priya stands by the corner table and wants a chair.

Anton already sits there on two chairs, with a Pfannkuchen and a Milchkaffee he has not touched.

Priya stands near the corner table while Renate tends the counter and Anton sits across two chairs with untouched food and a drink.

Learn — can I and may I

Six short lines cover can I, may I, yes you can, go ahead, that is fine, and a polite no.

You ask first, then wait for the answer.

  1. Priya reaches toward the second chair while Anton is sitting on it.

    Kann ich ___?

    Can I ___?

    When to use it: Ask this for ability, or as a common way to ask permission.

    Learn it as one piece for a can-I question.

  2. Priya turns toward the counter and politely asks whether she may take the chair.

    Darf ich ___?

    May I ___?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want to know if it is allowed.

    Learn it as one piece for a may-I question.

  3. Renate gives Priya permission with a clear, open-palmed gesture from behind the counter.

    Ja, das kannst du.

    Yes, you can.

    When to use it: Say this when a friend asks if they can.

    Learn it as one piece to say yes, they can.

  4. Anton indicates that he is already sitting on the chair as Priya stands beside the corner table.

    Klar, mach ruhig.

    Sure, go ahead.

    When to use it: Say this to let a friend go ahead.

    Learn it as one piece to let someone go ahead.

    Say it: Ruhig ends with the ch sound you hear in ich.

  5. Priya stands beside the empty table by the window while Renate nods yes from the counter.

    Das ist okay.

    That's okay.

    When to use it: Say this when something is fine with you.

    Learn it as one piece to say that is fine.

  6. Anton keeps a hoof on the second chair while Priya asks whether she may take another chair.

    Leider nein.

    I'm afraid not.

    When to use it: Say this when you have to refuse.

    Learn it as one piece for a polite no.

    Say it: Leider ends with a light -er, not a strong r.

Story — he is on it

Watch Priya ask for the second chair. Renate says she may. Then they see who is already sitting on it.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. Priya stands by the corner table and looks at the second chair.
  2. PriyaEntschuldigung.Excuse me.
  3. PriyaDarf ich den Stuhl nehmen?May I take the chair?
  4. RenateKlar, mach ruhig.Sure, go ahead.
  5. She reaches for it. Anton is already sitting on that chair.
  6. AntonIch sitze schon hier.I'm already sitting here.
  7. PriyaDas ist okay.That's okay.
  8. Priya turns to the empty table by the window.
  9. PriyaKann ich hier sitzen?Can I sit here?
  10. RenateJa, das kannst du.Yes, you can.
  11. RenateSetz dich.Have a seat.
  12. PriyaDarf ich noch einen Stuhl nehmen?May I take another chair?
  13. AntonLeider nein.I'm afraid not.

Practice — yes or no

Ten short exercises wait here. You will listen, pick, reply, fill a gap, and build a line.

Keep the yes and no answers apart from the two questions.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Ja, das kannst du.Drop the English here
    Klar, mach ruhig.Drop the English here
    Das ist okay.Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its German, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    You want to sit here and you ask in the everyday way.

  4. Pick the reply

    Jule says:

    Kann ich hier sitzen?

    Can I sit here?

    And you reply with:

  5. Fill the gap

    Sure, go ahead.

    Klar, mach ____.

  6. What does it mean?

    Das ist okay.

  7. Swap the word

    Ask if you are able, not if you are allowed.

    ____ ich ___?

  8. Build the line

    I'm afraid not.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  9. What do you say?

    A friend is standing by the table. Tell them to have a seat.

  10. True or false?

    This is how you say you are afraid not.

Say it — ask first

Now you are Priya at the corner table. When it is your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. Priya (you)You want permission. Ask if you may.

    Darf ich ___?

    May I ___?

0 of 3 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Kann ich ___?Can I ___?
Darf ich ___?May I ___?
Ja, das kannst du.Yes, you can.
Klar, mach ruhig.Sure, go ahead.
Das ist okay.That's okay.
Leider nein.I'm afraid not.
Next: lesson 34What's allowed

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these permission lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps can I and may I ready at the table.

Open Yak Cards