Difference between SAPERE and POTERE

Both sapere and potere mean can. What is the difference?

Sapere and potere

Sapere means basically to know. But when it is followed by a verb, it means sapere can. For example:

Non lo so. I don’t know.
So cucinare. I can cook.

But there is already another verb that means can, and that is potere. What is the difference between sapere and potere?

Sapere = Skill (know-how)

So suonare il pianoforte.

We use sapere to express something we can do because we have learned it, we know how to do it.

For example things like cucinare (to cook), andare in bicicletta (to ride a bike), sciare (to ski), cantare (to sing).

Esempi:

Luisa non sa suonare il pianoforte. Luisa can’t play the piano.
Mio padre sa cucinare bene. My father can cook well.
Il bambino non sa ancora camminare. The child cannot walk yet.
Sapete sciare? Can you ski?

Potere = Possibility or permission

Non posso suonare il pianoforte perché ho il braccio rotto.

We use potere to express that we 1) have the permission 2) we have the possibility to do something.

Esempi:

Non posso suonare la chitarra perché ho il braccio rotto. I can’t play guitar because my arm is broken.
In biblioteca non si può mangiare. You are not allowed to eat in the library.
I bambini non possono giocare perché devono fare i compiti. The children are not allowed to play because they have homework to do.
Può parlare più lentamente, per favore? Could you speak more slowly, please?

Sapere and potere in comparison

Non so suonare la chitarra Non posso suonare la chitarra
… perché non ho mai imparato. … perché ho il braccio rotto.
… perché prima devo fare i compiti.
I can’t play the guitar because I never learned how. I can’t play guitar because my arm is broken.
I am not allowed to play the guitar because I have to do my homework first.

Esercizio

1. Potere o sapere? Completa.

Impara di più!

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