loro potessero

could

→ potere
pot power (ability/authority to do something) + essero they imperfect subjunctive
auxiliary · third plural · imperfect subjunctive Rare #24,826
could Used as an auxiliary in the imperfect subjunctive (e.g., after verbs expressing doubt, desire, possibility).
IT: Speravo che potessero venire alla festa.
EN: I hoped they could come to the party.
Conjugation of potere
Subjunctive imperfect
SingularPlural
First potessimo
Second potessi poteste
Third potesse potessero

Pensavo che non potessero sentirci..

I thought they couldn't hear us..

— Salyut 7 - La storia di un'impresa (2017)

È quasi Capodanno, ho pensato potessero piacerti.

It's almost New Year's Eve, I thought you might like these.

— La ragazza d'autunno (2019)

La portavo a cena, al cinema, ovunque ci potessero vedere.

I took her to dinner, to the movies, anywhere we could be seen.

— Una giornata particolare (1977)

Se gli sguardi potessero uccidere io sarei già morto.

If looks could kill, I'd already be dead.

Non avrebbe mai pensato potessero esserci piloti bravi come Ayrton.

He would never have thought there could be drivers as good as Ayrton.

— Senna (2010)

Wow, non sapevo che le automobili americane si potessero rompere.

Wow, I didn't know American cars could break down.

— Assassination (2015)

Vorrei tanto che tuo padre e tua madre potessero vederti adesso.

I wish your father and mother could see you now.

— Malcolm X (1992)

Non pensavo potessero vedermi.

I didn't think they could see me.

— Ghost in the Shell (1995)

O, forse, cercava le parole, le parole che potessero esprimere il suo dolore!

Or, perhaps, he was looking for words, words that could express his pain!

— Divorzio all'italiana (1961)

Camminava lentamente in modo che i bambini potessero seguirlo.

He walked slowly so that the children could follow.

Pensavo che gli umani non potessero muoversi mentre sono sotto un incantesimo.

I thought humans couldn't move while under a spell.

— Demon Slayer - Il treno Mugen (2020)