Italian for English speakers Cafe · Lesson 5

Are you able to..?

Italian for abilities — So sciare ma adesso non posso (I can ski but I can't now) — with sapere for skills.

Conversation

  1. Meera Meera

    Tu sai sciare?

    Can you ski?

    Tip: <Sai> in this context means "are able to" or "know how to" <So> = I know/ I am able <Sai> = you know/ you are able

  2. Kyle Kyle

    So sciare, ma adesso non posso.

    I can ski, but I can't now

    Tip: <Io so sciare> = I am able to ski <Io posso sciare> = I am allowed to ski <Ma adesso> = but now

  3. Meera Meera

    Perché?

    Why?

  4. Kyle Kyle

    Negli ultimi anni c'è poca neve

    Because there hasn't been much snow in recent years

    Tip: <Negli ultimi anni> = In recent years

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

What's the difference between sapere and potere?

Sapere = know how (learned). Potere = able to (right now). So sciare (general ability) vs Posso sciare oggi? (today's possibility).

How to ask 'do you know how to ...?'

Sai + infinitive? Sai sciare? Sai ballare? Sai cucinare?

Common Italian sports verbs?

Sciare (ski), nuotare (swim), correre (run), ballare (dance), giocare a + sport (play), allenarsi (train).