Italian conjugation explanation

Which auxiliary verb to use for 'potere'?

<p>The verb <strong style="font-style: italic;">potere</strong> can take either <span style="font-style: italic;">avere</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">essere</span> as its auxiliary verb. When it is not used as a modal verb, the auxiliary verb is <span style="font-style: italic;">avere</span>:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">L'hanno presa in giro finché lei non ne <strong>ha potuto</strong> più. (<span style="font-style: italic;">They teased her until she could take no more.</span>)</div>

<p>However, the verb <span style="font-style: italic;">potere</span> (similar to

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/italian_auxiliary_verb_dovere" target="_blank">dovere</a>

and

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/italian_auxiliary_verb_volere" target="_blank">volere</a>

) is most often used as a modal verb (=to be able to do something) followed by another verb. In this case, we have to <strong>use the auxiliary verb that we would use with the verb that comes after <span style="font-style: italic;">potere</span></strong>:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Non <strong>sono potuto</strong> <span class="green_emphasis">venire</span> a causa della pioggia. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I couldn't come because of the rain.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">The verb <strong>venire</strong> (=to come) uses <strong>essere</strong> as its auxiliary verb.</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Noi non <strong>abbiamo potuto</strong> <span class="green_emphasis">fare</span> a meno di piangere. (<span style="font-style: italic;">We could not help but cry.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">The verb <strong>fare</strong> (=to do) uses <strong>avere</strong> as its auxiliary verb.</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">The verb <span style="font-style: italic;">essere</span></div>

<p>When <strong><span style="font-style: italic;">potere</span> is followed by <span style="font-style: italic;">essere</span></strong>, the auxiliary verb has to be <strong style="font-style: italic;">avere</strong> (even though the auxiliary verb for <span style="font-style: italic;">essere</span> is <span style="font-style: italic;">essere</span>):</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Tutto <strong>avrebbe potuto</strong> <span class="green_emphasis">essere</span> completamente diverso. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Everything could have been completely different.</span>)</div>

Compare with:

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Tutto <strong>è stato</strong> completamente diverso. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Everything has been completely different.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Reflexive verbs</div>

<p>When <span style="font-style: italic;">potere</span> is used as a modal verb with a reflexive verb, <strong>the position of the reflexive pronoun determines which auxiliary verb to use</strong>:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Si</span> <strong>sarebbero potuti</strong> almeno <span class="green_emphasis">mettere</span> dei vestiti puliti. (<span style="font-style: italic;">They could have at least put on some clean clothes.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">When the reflexive pronoun (si) is <strong>before</strong> the main verb, we use <strong>essere</strong>.</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>Avrebbero potuto</strong> almeno <span class="green_emphasis">mettersi</span> dei vestiti puliti. (<span style="font-style: italic;">They could have at least put on some clean clothes.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">When the reflexive pronoun (si) is <strong>after</strong> the main verb, we use <strong>avere</strong>.</div>