How to use “Sapere” and “Potere”

In a nutshell:

• Sapere expresses the ability to do something (a skill or knowledge).
• Potere focuses on circumstances that make something possible, rather than on ability.

When learning Italian, many students, regardless of level, often say “Non posso parlare italiano” to express that they can’t speak Italian. However, this phrase is incorrect when referring to the lack of skill. The correct expression is “Non so parlare italiano,” which means “I don’t know how to speak Italian.” In this blog, we will explore the correct meanings and uses of potere and sapere, so you can use them accurately.

(Are you a complete beginner? Then start HERE.)

The confusion for English speakers—our area of expertise—arises because both verbs translate to “can” in English, yet they have distinct meanings in Italian and cannot be used interchangeably. In this article, we’ll focus on one key meaning for each verb. Potere and sapere have other meanings that we will not cover today, but we have a separate blog post for that topic. Click here to read it. However, we recommend that you read this first and come back to that later.

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The Verb Sapere in Italian

Meaning and Usage of Sapere:

“Sapere” means “to know” or “to have the ability to do something.” In today’s post, we’ll focus on its use when describing skills or abilities.

Examples:

• So cucinare. (I know how to cook.)
• Sai sciare? (Do you know how to ski?)
• Lorenzo sa parlare tre lingue. (Lorenzo can speak three languages.)
• Loro sanno suonare il piano molto bene. (They can play the piano really well.)

In these examples, “sapere” expresses the knowledge or skill to do something.

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Conjugation of Sapere:

Sapere is an irregular modal verb. We’ll explain the implications of being a modal verb later on. Below are its present, past, and future tense forms:

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The Verb Potere in Italian

Meaning and Usage of Potere:

Potere means “can” or “to be able to” in Italian, but it focuses on circumstances that make something possible, rather than skill.

Examples:

• Possiamo sciare perché abbiamo gli sci. (We can ski because we have the skis.)
• Puoi nuotare perché hai il costume. (You can swim because you have the swimsuit.)

In these cases, potere conveys possibility based on conditions rather than ability.

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Conjugation of Potere:

Here’s how to conjugate potere in the present, past, and future tenses:

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Understanding Modal Verbs in Italian

Sapere and potere are modal verbs, meaning they accompany a main verb and modify its meaning by expressing conditions like possibility or ability. Modal verbs are typically conjugated and paired with another verb in its infinitive form (i.e., verbs ending in -are, -ere, or -ire).

Examples:

• Io so suonare il piano. (I know how to play the piano.) so (sapere) + suonare (infinitive)
• Tu puoi parlare. (You can speak.) puoi (potere) + parlare (infinitive)

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Sapere vs. Potere: Key Differences

Let’s now contrast the two verbs and see how the sentence meaning changes in each case:

1. Non so parlare italiano.
   (I don’t know how to speak Italian.)
   → Refers to lack of skill.
   Non posso parlare oggi, ho il mal di gola.
   (I cannot speak today because I have a sore throat.)
   → Refers to physical inability.
2. So suonare il piano, l’ho studiato al conservatorio.
   (I know how to play the piano, I studied it at the conservatory.)
   → Refers to learned skill.
   Posso suonare questo piano antico, ho avuto il permesso dal proprietario.
   (I can play this antique piano, I got permission from the owner.)
   → Refers to permission.
3. So cucinare, cucino da quando ero piccola.
   (I know how to cook, I’ve been cooking since I was young.)
   Non posso cucinare qui, la cucina è troppo caotica.
   (I can’t cook here, the kitchen is too chaotic.

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Practice Exercises

Complete the following sentences with sapere or potere:

Esempio: Non so andare a cavallo, non ho mai imparato.

1. Non ____ andare in montagna questo weekend perché la macchina è rotta.
2. ____ cucinare piatti italiani molto bene, soprattutto la pasta.
3. Lui non ____ parlare inglese, quindi per lui dobbiamo tradurre.
4. Non ____ accendere il computer perché c’è un black out.
5. ____ nuotare molto bene, ma oggi non ____ farlo perché la piscina è chiusa.
6. Voi ____ suonare benissimo la chitarra.
7. Non ____ sciare questo weekend, ho il piede rotto.
8. Non ____ sciare bene, ma ____ fare snowboard.
9. Quando ero piccolo, non ____ andare in bicicletta.
10. Lei ____ parlare tre lingue: italiano, inglese, e francese.

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Further practice

Mastering the difference between potere and sapere is essential for speaking Italian accurately. By practicing these verbs in various contexts, you’ll become more comfortable choosing the right one. Don’t hesitate to ask questions if you need further clarification.

Try using potere and sapere in sentences perhaps in your next Italian class or in our NEW Conversation Group for beginners on Facebook! (Join here). Share them in the comments, and I’ll help you with any corrections or clarifications. Keep practising, and soon you’ll master these essential verbs.

Buon Lavoro!

Solutions:

• 1. Non posso andare in montagna questo weekend perché la macchina è rotta.
• 2. So cucinare piatti italiani molto bene, soprattutto la pasta.
• 3. Lui non sa parlare inglese, quindi dobbiamo tradurre per lui.
• 4. Non posso accendere il computer perché c’è un black out.
• 5. So nuotare molto bene, ma oggi non posso farlo perché la piscina è chiusa.
• 6. Voi sapete suonare benissimo la chitarra.
• 7. Non posso sciare questo weekend, ho il piede rotto.
• 8. Non so sciare bene, ma so fare snowboard.
• 9. Quando ero piccolo, non sapevo andare in bicicletta.
• 10. Lei sa parlare tre lingue: italiano, inglese, e francese.