Learn Norwegian › Norwegian grammar: all topics A1–B2
🔑 Norwegian grammar: Modal verbs — rule, table and examples
Level A1
The rule
After kan, vil, skal, må and bør the verb is in the infinitive without “å” and without -r: “Jeg kan snakke norsk”. After other verbs (liker, begynner, prøver) use “å”: “Jeg liker å lese”.
Table
| Norwegian | English |
|---|---|
| kan | can |
| vil | want to |
| skal | shall, am going to |
| må | must |
| bør | should |
| liker å + inf. | like to |
Examples
- Jeg kan snakke litt norsk.
I can speak a little Norwegian. - Vi skal reise til Tromsø.
We are going to travel to Tromsø. - Jeg liker å lese.
I like to read.
Try it yourself
1. Jeg kan ____ norsk. (snakke)
snakke · snakker · snakket · å snakke
Show the answer
Answer: snakke
2. Vi må ____ nå! (gå)
gikk · gå · går · å gå
Show the answer
Answer: gå
3. Vil du ____ kaffe? (ha)
ha · hadde · har · å ha
Show the answer
Answer: ha
4. Leo skal ____ fotball i dag. (spille)
spille · spiller · spilt · å spille
Show the answer
Answer: spille
5. Jeg liker ____ bøker. (lese)
lese · leser · leste · å lese
Show the answer
Answer: å lese
6. Du bør ____ til legen. (gå)
gå · går · gått · å gå
Show the answer
Answer: gå
More grammar topics
FAQ
How does “Modal verbs” work in Norwegian?
After kan, vil, skal, må and bør the verb is in the infinitive without “å” and without -r: “Jeg kan snakke norsk”. After other verbs (liker, begynner, prøver) use “å”: “Jeg liker å lese”.
How can I practise “Modal verbs”?
Open the free exercise in Komiks·Lab: 10 fill-in-the-gap tasks with instant feedback, and comics where the rule is used in real dialogues.