Today we continue our series on the modal verbs with the conjugation of the verb potere (to be able to) when it’s used with the auxiliary verbs essere (to be) and avere (to have). As with all the modal verbs, the choice of which auxiliary verb to use with potere depends on the verb that follows it. Here are some practical examples:

Indicativo Passato Prossimo (present perfect indicative):
Examples:
ieri non ho potuto fare la spesa = yesterday I couldn’t do the shopping
finalmente abbiamo potuto visitare il Castello di Bagnone = at last we were able to visit the Castle in Bagnone
lo sai se Lucia è potuta passare in lavanderia a ritirare la mia giacca? = do you know if Lucia was able to go by the laundry to get my jacket?
Mario e Lucia non sono potuti restare a cena = Mario e Lucia couldn’t stay for dinner

Sopra: Uno scorcio di Bagnone, Lunigiana. Foto di Geoff.

Condizionale Passato (past conditional):
Examples:
se non fossi stato così pigro avrei potuto studiare l’italiano = if I hadn’t been so lazy I could have studied Italian
se fossimo partiti prima avremmo potuto visitare il Castello di Bagnone = If we had left earlier we could have visited the Castle in Bagnone
se non fosse stato per l’incidente, Maria sarebbe potuta arrivare in tempo per il pranzo = had it not been for the accident, Maria could have arrived in time for lunch
saremmo potuti restare più a lungo = we could have stayed longer

To find out more about the past conditional see this post: Condizionale Passato

Congiuntivo Passato (past subjunctive):
Examples:
è un peccato che Mario non abbia potuto partecipare alla partita = it’s a shame that Mario couldn’t take part in the match
non credo che Luciano e Mario abbiano potuto portare a termine il loro progetto = I don’t think that Luciano and Mario were able to complete their project
pensi che Lucia sia potuta passare in lavanderia a ritirare la mia giacca? = do you think that Lucia was able to go by the laundry to get my jacket?
mi dispiace che voi non siate potuti venire = I’m sorry that you (plural) couldn’t come

To find out more about the past subjunctive see this post: Congiuntivo Passato

Congiuntivo Trapassato (pluperfect subjunctive):
Examples:
oh, se solo avessi potuto studiare l’italiano! = oh, if only I could had studied Italian!
se Mario avesse potuto finire il lavoro in tempo sarebbe partito prima = if Mario could had finished the job on time he would have left earlier
se fossimo potuti restare un’altra settimana saremmo andati a Edimburgo = if we could had stayed another week we would have gone to Edinburgh
avevo paura che voi non foste potuti partire in tempo = I was worried that you (plural) had not been able to leave on time

Next time I’ll be looking at the conjugation and use of the modal verb volere.

To find out more about the pluperfect subjunctive see this post: Congiuntivo Trapassato

A presto!