Yap.Town

loro potevano

could, were able to, were allowed to

→ potere
potev be able to + ano 3rd person plural imperfect
auxiliary · 3rd-person plural, imperfect tense Uncommon #17,581
could, were able to, were allowed to The exact meaning depends on context: it can express ability, possibility, or permission.
IT: Potevano entrare dopo le otto.
EN: They could come in after eight.
Conjugation of potere
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
First potevo potevamo
Second potevi potevate
Third poteva potevano

Tanto in alto e lontano quanto le nostre ali ci potevano portare.

As high and far as our wings could carry us.

— Il ragazzo e l'airone (2023)

Nella mia vita c’erano un sacco di cose che potevano andare molto meglio.

There were a lot of things in my life that could have gone much better.

Ci hanno detto che potevano vincere.

They told us they could win.

Dove si potevano trovare pezzi?

Where could you find parts?

Gli uomini delle caverne potevano parlare?

Could cavemen talk?

— L'uomo che venne dalla Terra (2007)

Chissà quali desideri potevano venire in mente a qualcuno!

Who knows what wishes could come to mind!

— Stalker (1979)

Non lo potevano uccidere.

They couldn't kill him.

No, non potevano competere con me, ma si erano già trasformati in mostri.

No, they were no match for me, but they had already turned into monsters.

— Il castello errante di Howl (2004)

Non ti potevano dare una singola?

Couldn't they give you a single?

— Le invasioni barbariche (2003)

Quante uova si potevano prendere ieri?

How many eggs could you take yesterday?

Chi ha detto a Tom e Mary che potevano mangiare i miei sandwich?

Who told Tom and Mary they could eat my sandwiches?

E ai rapinatori è stato detto che potevano tenersi i soldi.

And the robbers were told they could keep the money.

— Una pallottola spuntata (2025)

E gli hai detto che potevano farlo?

And you told them they could do it?

— Una battaglia dopo l’altra (2025)

Potevano esaminare quei libri e capire che cosa stesse succedendo.

They could examine those books and figure out what was going on.

Chissà che potevano pensare.

Who knows what they might have thought.

— In the mood for love (2000)

Non la potevano uccidere.

They couldn't kill her.

E come potevano esserci?

And how could there be?

— Titanic (1997)

Quelli che non avevano bambini potevano uscire.

Those who didn't have children were allowed to go out.

— Va' e vedi (1985)