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German Phrase

Kann man das reparieren?

/kan man das ʁepaˈʁiːʁən/
Meaning"Can one repair that?"
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Meaning

Literally, ‘Can one repair that?’ It is used to ask whether a particular object can be fixed, often when you’re unsure about the condition or the feasibility of a repair. The impersonal ‘man’ makes the question sound neutral and polite, suitable for both casual and semi‑formal situations.

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When to use

Use this phrase when you pick up a broken item (a phone, a bike, a piece of furniture) and want to know if it’s worth trying to fix it. It’s also handy in a shop or workshop when you’re asking the staff about the repair possibilities of something you brought in.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Kannmandasreparieren?

1

Modalverb können

‘Kann’ is the 3rd‑person singular present of ‘können’, used to ask about possibility or ability.

2

Impersonal pronoun man

‘man’ means ‘one/people’ and creates a neutral, general question without specifying a subject.

3

Demonstrative pronoun das

‘das’ points to a specific object that both speakers know about.

4

Infinitive reparieren

After a modal verb, the main verb stays in the infinitive form.

5

Word order in yes/no questions

In German yes/no questions the finite verb (Kann) moves to the first position, followed by the subject (man).

🗨In Conversation

A

Kann man das reparieren?

Can it be repaired?

Ja, das ist kein Problem. Wir brauchen nur ein neues Teil.

Yes, that’s no problem. We just need a new part.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Kann ich das reparieren?

    ‘Ich’ changes the meaning to ‘Can I repair it?’, which is a personal ability question, not the neutral inquiry.

  • Kann man das reparieren

    Missing the question mark or intonation can make it sound like a statement.

  • Kann man das reparieren das?

    Duplicating ‘das’ is ungrammatical; the object pronoun appears only once.

↔Alternatives

  • Lässt sich das reparieren?

    Can that be repaired?

  • Können Sie das reparieren?

    Can you repair that?

  • Ist das reparierbar?

    Is that repairable?

de

Cultural Tip

In German, using ‘man’ keeps the question neutral and avoids sounding demanding. If you’re speaking directly to a service professional, switching to the polite ‘Sie’ (e.g., ‘Können Sie das reparieren?’) shows respect. Also, Germans appreciate a clear, concise question – avoid adding extra filler words.