dürfen or können?
a1dürfen is permission (someone allows it), können is ability or possibility. Colloquially „können“ covers both - in an exam the difference counts.
dürfen
Permission and prohibition. The negative „nicht dürfen“ means it is forbidden.
Hier darf man nicht rauchen.You're not allowed to smoke here.
können
Ability (learned) or possibility (the circumstances allow it).
Ich kann schwimmen.I can swim.
The mistake
Kann ich bitte auf die Toilette?
Darf ich bitte auf die Toilette?
The question asks for permission, not ability. Both are heard in daily life, but a classroom expects „darf“.
Rule of thumb
„nicht können“ = I'm unable to. „nicht dürfen“ = it's forbidden. Two very different statements.
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