Learn Italian: Potresti aggiornare questa cartella stasera? - Could you update this folder tonight?

Potresti is the conditional form of potere (can/to be able to). While puoi means 'can you', potresti means 'could you'. Using the conditional makes the request much more polite!

Why is aggiornare in its full dictionary form?

Potere is a modal verb (a helper verb). In Italian, when you use a modal verb, the main action verb that follows it always stays in the infinitive (the unconjugated form ending in -are, -ere, or -ire).

Is there a trick to remembering the word aggiornare?

Yes! If you look closely, you will see the word giorno (day) inside it. Aggiornare literally means 'to bring to the current day', which is a perfect way to remember that it means 'to update'.

Does cartella mean 'cartel'?

No, this is a false friend! Cartella means 'folder' (like a computer directory or a physical file folder) or a briefcase. It comes from carta, which means paper.

Is stasera related to the word questa in the sentence?