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Italian Phrase

Il commesso può aiutarti.

/il komˈtʃes.so ˈpɔː a.juˈtaɾti/
Meaning"The shop assistant can help you."
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Meaning

Literally, “The shop assistant can help you.” It states that the store clerk is able and willing to give assistance, using the modal verb ‘potere’ and the infinitive with a clitic pronoun.

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When to use

Use this sentence when you’re talking to a friend or a colleague about whether the shop assistant in a store is able to assist you, or when you’re asking a friend if they need help from the clerk.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Ilcommessopuòaiutarti

1

Definite article (Il)

Il is the masculine singular definite article used before consonant sounds.

2

Noun (commesso)

Commesso means ‘shop assistant’ (male). The feminine form is commessa.

3

Modal verb (può)

Può is the third‑person singular present of potere, meaning ‘can’ or ‘is able to’.

4

Infinitive with clitic (aiutarti)

Aiutarti = aiutare + ti. The infinitive ‘to help’ attaches the indirect object pronoun ‘ti’ (you, informal) to form ‘help you’.

🗨In Conversation

A

Il commesso può aiutarti?

Can the shop assistant help you?

Sì, mi ha mostrato le scarpe giuste.

Yes, he showed me the right shoes.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Il commesso può aiutare te.

    The infinitive must attach the clitic pronoun directly; use ‘aiutarti’ not ‘aiutare te’.

  • Il commesso può aiutare voi.

    For the informal singular you need ‘ti’; for plural you would say ‘aiutarvi’. ‘Voi’ is a subject pronoun, not an object pronoun.

  • Il commesso può aiutare Lei.

    When using the formal ‘Lei’, the clitic is ‘la’; the correct form is ‘aiutarla’.

↔Alternatives

  • Il commesso può darti una mano.

    The shop assistant can give you a hand.

  • Il commesso è disponibile ad assisterti.

    The shop assistant is available to assist you.

  • Il commesso può aiutarmi.

    The shop assistant can help me.

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Cultural Tip

In Italy, the word ‘commesso’ (male) or ‘commessa’ (female) is the everyday term for a shop assistant. When speaking to strangers or in a formal setting, you would normally use the formal ‘può aiutare Lei’ instead of the informal ‘può aiutarti’. Also, Italians often ask the clerk directly: ‘Mi può aiutare?’ rather than stating the ability.