Italian Phrase
Possiamo finirlo in fretta.
Meaning
‘We can finish it quickly.’ The sentence combines a modal verb with an infinitive that already contains the object pronoun, followed by the adverbial phrase *in fretta* to stress speed.
When to use
Use this phrase when you and others are ready to wrap up a task, a project, or a piece of homework and you want to stress that it can be done fast. It works well in informal team settings, study groups, or casual workplace conversations.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Possiamofinirloinfretta
Potere (possiamo)
‘Possiamo’ is the 1st‑person plural present of the modal verb *potere* (to be able). It is used to express ability or permission.
Infinitive + clitic pronoun
When a direct‑object pronoun refers to a masculine singular noun, it is attached to the infinitive (finir‑lo).
‘in fretta’
A fixed adverbial phrase meaning ‘quickly, in a hurry’. It is informal and very common in spoken Italian.
🗨In Conversation
Possiamo finirlo in fretta?
Can we finish it quickly?
Sì, basta che tutti si concentrano.
Yes, we just need everyone to focus.
✕Common Mistakes
Possiamo finire in fretta.
The object pronoun ‘lo’ is required because the thing to be finished is already mentioned.
Possiamo finirlo veloce.
‘Veloce’ is an adjective; to modify a verb you need the adverb *velocemente* or the set phrase *in fretta*.
↔Alternatives
Possiamo completarlo rapidamente.
We can complete it quickly.
Finiremo in fretta.
We’ll finish quickly.
Possiamo farlo subito.
We can do it right away.
Cultural Tip
‘In fretta’ is colloquial; in formal writing you would prefer *rapidamente* or *con sollecitudine*. Also remember that the clitic pronoun must stay attached to the infinitive – separating it (e.g., *finire lo*) is ungrammatical in modern Italian.