French for English speakers Beach · Lesson 2

Can you? Can't you?

Savoir vs pouvoir in French — Je sais nager mais je ne nage pas en ce moment (I can swim but I'm not swimming now) — for learned ability vs current capability.

Conversation

  1. Yennifer Yennifer

    Sais-tu nager ?

    Can you swim?

  2. Rocky Rocky

    J-Je sais nager, mais je nage pas en ce moment.

    I-I-I am able to swim, but NOW I can't

    Tip: <en ce moment> = lit. in this moment

  3. Yennifer Yennifer

    Pourquoi ?

    Why can't you?

  4. Rocky Rocky

    P-p-parce qu'on est en hiver : il ne fait pas assez chaud pour ça !

    B-b-because it is winter: it's not hot enough!

    Tip: <on est en hiver> = lit. we are in winter

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

What's the difference between savoir and pouvoir?

Savoir = know how to (learned skill: Je sais nager). Pouvoir = be able to right now (Je peux nager). Both translate as 'can' in English.

How to ask 'can you ...?' in French?

Sais-tu + infinitive (skill) or Peux-tu + infinitive (capability now). Sais-tu nager? = 'do you know how to swim?'.

Common French sports verbs?

Nager (swim), courir (run), skier (ski), danser (dance), jouer au tennis (play tennis), faire du sport (do sport).

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