What is 'could' when translated from English to Italian?

Answer 1

Potrei, potevo and ho potuto are just three equivalents of the English verb "I could."

Specifically, the English verb may be translated at least three ways into Italian. For example it may be translated -- as "I could" in the sense of "It may be possible for me to..." -- into the conditional potrei, which is pronounced "poh-TREY." Or it may be translated -- as "I could" in the sense of "It used to be possible for me (at one time in the past)..." -- into the imperfect potevo, which is pronunced "poh-TEY-voh." Or it even may be translated as "I was able to" -- in the sense of "It was possible for me to..." -- into the perfect ho potuto, which is pronounced "oh poh-TOO-toh."