Italian for English speakers Beach · Lesson 2

Can you? Can't you?

Italian for abilities — Sai nuotare? (Do you know how to swim?) — with sapere vs potere for skill vs current capability.

Conversation

Pronunciation Translations Tips

Yennifer

Tu sai nuotare?

Can you swim?
Rocky

S-s-so nuotare, ma ADESSO non posso

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

Perché non puoi?

Why can't you?
Rocky

Perché è inverno: non fa abbastanza caldo!

Because it is winter: it's not hot enough!

Tip: <Non> + verb + <abbastanza> = don't + verb + enough <Non mangia abbastanza> = he doesn't eat enough <Non> + to be + <abbastanza> + adjective = not being enough + adjective <Non è abbastanza forte> = he is not strong enough

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

Sapere vs potere in Italian?

Sapere = know how (learned skill). Potere = be able to (right now). So nuotare ma adesso non posso = 'I can swim but I can't now'.

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

Sai + infinitive? (skill) or Puoi + infinitive? (capability). Sai nuotare? = 'do you know how to swim?'.

Common Italian sports verbs?

Nuotare (swim), correre (run), sciare (ski), ballare (dance), giocare a tennis (play tennis), pedalare (cycle).