possono

Possono is the third-person plural present indicative form of the Italian verb potere, meaning "they can" or "they are able to." It functions as a modal verb used to express ability, possibility, or permission in the present. In Italian, potere is typically followed by an infinitive, so phrases like possono venire domani mean "they can come tomorrow." The negative form is non possono, as in Non possono entrare senza un biglietto.

Etymology and forms: potere derives from Latin posse, and sono is the present tense ending for the third-person plural in this verb class. The standard present-tense conjugation is posso, puoi, può, possiamo, potete, possono, with possono occupying the third-person plural. As a modal verb, potere modulates the meaning of the accompanying infinitive rather than carrying full lexical meaning on its own.

Usage notes: pos­souno is used in a variety of contexts to indicate capability, possibility, or permission in the present. It can express straightforward ability, hypothetical capability, or permission granted or requested, depending on context and intonation. It commonly appears in everyday speech, formal writing, and reported speech. Examples include Possono venire se hanno tempo (They can come if they have time) and Non possono entrare senza un biglietto (They cannot enter without a ticket).

Related forms include the other present-tense persons of potere and the related modal expressions using potere in different tenses, moods, or voices. As with other Italian modals, the exact nuance depends on context, syntax, and any accompanying verbs.