Maltese has two verbs for can. , know, with a second verb is knowing how: a skill you have learnt. , I can swim · , I can't sing. is can as in possible, or allowed: , I can help · , after midnight you can't. As after , the second verb takes the person too: Can you sing? literally do you know you sing?
: knowing how
| Person | Example | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | |||
| I know how · I can swim. | |||
| I know how · I can swim. | |||
| you know how · Can you cook? | |||
| you know how · Can you cook? | |||
| he knows how · Ġorġ can play. | |||
| he knows how · Ġorġ can play. | |||
| she knows how · Ella can sing. | |||
| she knows how · Ella can sing. | |||
| Plural | |||
| we know how · We can dance. | |||
| we know how · We can dance. | |||
| you know how · Can you swim? | |||
| you know how · Can you swim? | |||
| they know how · They can cook. | |||
| they know how · They can cook. | |||
In the negative: , , ; in the plural , , .
: can, may
| Person | Example | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | |||
| I can · I can help. | |||
| I can · I can help. | |||
| you can · Can you come? | |||
| you can · Can you come? | |||
| he can · Ċikku can sleep here. | |||
| he can · Ċikku can sleep here. | |||
| she can · Ella can sing with the children. | |||
| she can · Ella can sing with the children. | |||
| Plural | |||
| we can · We can help. | |||
| we can · We can help. | |||
| you can · You can come. | |||
| you can · You can come. | |||
| they can · They can wait. | |||
| they can · They can wait. | |||
The plural changes inside: , but . In the negative: , , ; , , .
Which one? If you learnt it, ; if it is possible or allowed, . So you can know how and still not be able: I can swim, but today I can't: it's windy. Watch the second verb, too: before a , or , the t- of you and she becomes that letter: , .
Jien iva! Naf indoqq u nkanta.I can! I can play and sing.
Tonio? Jiżfen? Tonio ma jafx jiżfen!Tonio? Dance? Tonio can't dance!
Jista' jitgħallem.He can learn.
Wara nofsillejl, ma tistax. Lanqas is-Sibt.After midnight, you can't. Not even on Saturday.
Practice 1/5 · Finding words
Find the words
Tap the forms of jaf and jista'.
? ?
And dancing? Can you dance?
, .
No, I can't sing at all.
, .
No, I can't sing at all.
! .
I can! I can play and sing.
.
He can learn.
! .
Thank you! Now I can sleep.
! .
Thank you! Now I can sleep.
, .
Ella and Ġorġ can sing, and we can help.
Practice 2/5 · The right form
Who knows how?
Choose the right word for the gap.
Jien ngħum.
I can swim.
Jien ngħum.
I can swim.
Int issajjar?
Can you cook?
Ġorġ idoqq it-trumbetta.
Ġorġ can play the trumpet.
Ella tkanta.
Ella can sing.
Aħna niżfnu!
We can dance!
Intom tgħumu?
Can you two swim?
Lina u Marija jsajru.
Lina and Marija can cook.
Tonio ma jiżfen.
Tonio can't dance.
Know how, or can?
Choose the right word for the gap.
Wara nofsillejl Ġorġ ma idoqq.
After midnight Ġorġ can't play (he isn't allowed).
Naf ngħum, imma illum ma : hemm ir-riħ.
I can swim, but today I can't: it's windy.
Naf ngħum, imma illum ma : hemm ir-riħ.
I can swim, but today I can't: it's windy.
ndoqq is-Sibt?
Can I play on Saturday? (Is it allowed?)
Iva, iddoqq, imma mhux wara nofsillejl.
Yes, you can play, but not after midnight.
Ċikku jorqod fuq il-bankarell tiegħi.
Ċikku can sleep on my stall.
Ċikku jorqod fuq il-bankarell tiegħi.
Ċikku can sleep on my stall.
Aħna ngħinu fil-festa.
We can help at the feast.
Intom tiġu s-Sibt?
Can you two come on Saturday?
Il-voluntiera jiġu fis-sitta.
The volunteers can come at six.
Ella tkanta mat-tfal.
Ella can sing with the children.
Practice 3/5 · Fill the gaps
Who can do what?
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Ġorġ idoqq u jkanta, imma wara nofsillejl ma .
Ġorġ can play and sing, but after midnight he can't.
Jien ma inkanta, imma insajjar ftit.
I can't sing, but I can cook a little.
Jien ma inkanta, imma insajjar ftit.
I can't sing, but I can cook a little.
Ella tkanta, u fil-festa tkanta mat-tfal.
Ella can sing, and at the feast she can sing with the children.
Lina u Marija jsajru, u aħna ngħinu.
Lina and Marija can cook, and we can help.
Tonio? jitgħallem!
Tonio? He can learn!
Intom tiżfnu? Le? titgħallmu!
Can you two dance? No? You can learn!
Ċikku, torqod fuq il-bankarell tiegħi.
Ċikku, you can sleep on my stall.
Ċikku, torqod fuq il-bankarell tiegħi.
Ċikku, you can sleep on my stall.
Practice 4/5 · Building sentences
Put the words in order
Put the words in order.
Can you cook?
I can't sing at all.
I can't sing at all.
I can play and sing.
Tonio can't dance.
After midnight you can't.
Now I can sleep.
Now I can sleep.
We can dance a little.
Can you two come on Saturday?
The volunteers can learn.
Lina and Marija can cook well.
Ella can sing, and she can sing at the feast.
Ġorġ can play, and he may play on Saturday.
Practice 5/5 · In situations
The right words
Choose the right words for the situation.
Marija asks if you can cook. You can, a little.
You say:
Both verbs take the person: naf insajjar, I know I cook.
Marija asks if you can cook. You can, a little.
You say:
Both verbs take the person: naf insajjar, I know I cook.
Ġorġ asks if he can play after midnight. Marija says no.
Marija says:
He knows how; he just isn't allowed. That is jista'.
Ella asks if you can dance. Tell her not very well.
You say:
Ella asks if you can dance. Tell her not very well.
You say:
Ġorġ laughs that Tonio can't dance.
Ġorġ says:
Ask Ġorġ and Ella if they can come on Saturday.
You say:
Ask Ġorġ and Ella if they can come on Saturday.
You say:
Tell Marija that you and Ella can help.
You say:
Tell Marija that you and Ella can help.
You say:
Unit complete
