German Phrase
Du kannst es benutzen.
Meaning
The sentence means ‘You can use it.’ It states that the listener has the ability or permission to make use of a particular object or service that has already been mentioned.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to give someone permission, reassure them that something is possible, or simply point out that a tool or resource is available for their use.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Dukannstesbenutzen.
Personal pronoun (Du)
‘Du’ is the informal singular ‘you’, used with friends, family, or peers.
Modal verb (können) – present tense
‘kannst’ is the 2nd‑person singular present form of ‘können’, meaning ‘can / be able to’.
Pronoun (es)
‘es’ is the neuter third‑person singular pronoun, standing in for an object previously mentioned.
Infinitive without ‘zu’
After a modal verb, the main verb stays in its bare infinitive form – here ‘benutzen’.
Word order
In a main clause the finite verb (kannst) occupies the second position; the infinitive follows at the end.
🗨In Conversation
Kann ich den Laptop ausleihen?
Can I borrow the laptop?
Ja, du kannst ihn benutzen.
Yes, you can use it.
✕Common Mistakes
Du kann es benutzen.
The verb must agree with the subject ‘Du’; use ‘kannst’ not ‘kann’.
Du kannst es zu benutzen.
After a modal verb the infinitive does not take ‘zu’.
Du kannst es benutzen?
When asking a question, the verb order changes: ‘Kannst du es benutzen?’
↔Alternatives
Du darfst es verwenden.
You may use it.
Du kannst es nutzen.
You can make use of it.
Du kannst es gebrauchen.
You can employ it.
Cultural Tip
‘Benutzen’ is perfectly fine in everyday German, but in more formal or technical contexts speakers often prefer ‘verwenden’ or ‘nutzen’. Also remember that ‘Du’ signals informality; with strangers or in a business setting you would switch to ‘Sie können es benutzen.’