When I was in grade school if we asked the teacher "Can I talk to you?", her response would be "I don't know. Can you"? Meaning she wanted us to say "May I...". Is there something similar in Italian or is posso also understood as "May I"?

For example how would I say "May I bring the bicycle in the restaurant"?

I could say "Posso portare la bicicletta nel ristorante"? But I would not have some one saying "Non so". "Può"?

Posso farlo? It is used all the time. It means may I. Posso sedermi a questa tavola? Posso togliere i piatti? Follows all the tenses and forms.
Riesco means can I. Riesco salire questa collina? Am I able to climb this hill?
Same difference as English. Potere and riuscire.
(and no, you may not carry the bike into the restaurant. Chain it outside!)

I laughed out loud reading this, because I constantly say something similar to my young niece, nephew and cousins when they say "can I ...". I just know they think I'm the biggest old fart in the world as they roll their eyes ...

quote:

Originally posted by decobabe:
Posso farlo? It is used all the time. It means may I. Posso sedermi a questa tavola? Posso togliere i piatti? Follows all the tenses and forms.
Riesco means can I. Riesco salire questa collina? Am I able to climb this hill?
Same difference as English. Potere and riuscire.
(and no, you may not carry the bike into the restaurant. Chain it outside!)

Thanks Decobabe it is good to know that I do not need to learn yet another verb.

Perhaps this is a subject for another thread but, depending on the restaurant, store, business etc. it is perfectly acceptable to ask to bring the bike inside. Most business owners here are aware of the high cost of a quality bicycle and how quickly a chain can be cut. They are usually more then willing to accommodate. Should I not even ask in Italy?

Hopefully most of our lunch stops will be at establishments with outdoor seating so securtiy won't be an issue.

I frankly don't know how much bike thievery there might be or where. I used to use an expensive extra hard metal lock, removing the rear wheel and locking both wheels together. That lock came with insurance against theft. I rode with the lock clipped on the back.
What I do know is that Italian restaurants, etc. are fairly snug. Short of a pricey place I can't think where you would put it! I have never seen a bike inside any of them. There are always a bunch of bikes outside the supermarket, not even locked. I don't suppose I'd do that in Bari, but they are also not expensive trail bikes. There are bike racks everywhere here. Can you not ride Italy on a scruffy, common old bike?

quote:

Originally posted by spinnaker:
When I was in grade school if we asked the teacher "Can I talk to you?", her response would be "I don't know. Can you"? Meaning she wanted us to say "May I...". Is there something similar in Italian or is posso also understood as "May I"?
***

I think it is better to use potrei (may) vs posso (can).

Potrei means "Could I" or "perhaps I could."
Listen the next time the waiter wants to take your plate. He says, "Posso?" Or if someone wishes to sit at your bar table, "Posso?"