Conjugation of Potere (Present Tense)
| Italian | English | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Posso | I can / Can I? | Posso aiutarti? (Can I help you?) |
| Puoi | You can / Can you? | Perché non puoi venire alla riunione? (Why can’t you join the meeting?) |
| Può | He/She can / Can he, she? | Lui può andare in palestra oggi. (She can’t go the the gym today?) |
| Possiamo | We can / Can we? | Noi non possiamo cucinare insieme.(We can’t cook together) |
| Potete | You can / Can you? | Potete venire con noi? (Can you come with us?) |
| Possono | They can / Can they? | Loro possono darti un consiglio. (They can give you a piece of advice) |
Negative forms:
- “I can’t” – “Non posso“
- “I couldn’t” or “I was not able” – “Non ho potuto” or “Non sono potuto“
Potere + infinitive
The verb ‘potere’ in Italian is always followed by an infinitive verb, that is, an unconjugated verb
- Puoi parlare più lentamente? – Can you speak more slowly?
- Posso venire più tardi? – Can I come later?
Don’t say: “Puoi parli più lentamente” – Can you you speak more slowly?
Meanings of Potere : May / Can
Requesting Permission:
- Posso uscire con i miei amici stasera? – (Can I go out with my friends tonight?)
Offering Assistance:
- Posso aiutarti con i i bagagli? – (May I help you with the luggage?)
Discussing Possibility:
- Possiamo incontrarci domani? – (Can we meet tomorrow?)
Declining an Invitation:
- Mi dispiace, non posso partecipare alla riunione. – (I’m sorry, I can’t attend the meeting.)
Careful: Potere vs. sapere
“Potere” doesn’t express ability. Instead, in Italian, we use the verb sapere to express ability or skill in doing something or not doing something.
Don’t say: ‘Posso parlare italiano.’ (I can speak Italian.)
Instead, say: ‘So parlare italiano.’ (I know how to speak Italian.)
Potere and the passato prossimo
Potere can be conjugated with both the auxiliary verbs essere or avere. That’s why we can say either ‘ho potuto’ or ‘sono potuta/a,’ depending on the type of verb following ‘potere.’
How to choose between essere or avere:
If ‘potere’ is followed by a verb that typically uses ‘essere,’ as the helping verb, like andare or ‘arrivare, you should use ‘essere.’
If ‘potere’ is followed by a verb that typically uses ‘avere,’ as the helping verb, like studiare or dormire, you should use ‘avere.’
Examples:
| Ieri non sono potuta andare in palestra perché stavo male. | Yesterday I couldn’t go to the gym because I was feeling unwell. | ax |
| Ieri non ho potuto studiare perché stavo male. | Yesterday I couldn’t study because I was feeling unwell. | ax |
When ‘potere’ is conjugated with ‘essere,’ it modifies its endings.
| Masculine Singular | Sono potuto | I have been able (masculine singular) |
| Feminine Singular | Sono potuta | I have been able (feminine singular) |
| Masculine Plural | Siamo potuti | We have been able (masculine plural) |
| Feminine Plural | Siamo potute | We have been able (feminine plural) |
