Italian Phrase
Puoi vedere cosa fa il tecnico.
Meaning
Literally, ‘Can you see what the technician is doing?’ It is a polite request for someone to look at the technician’s work, often used in workshops, IT support, or any situation where a technician is performing a task.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to ask a colleague, a client, or a friend to check the technician’s activity – for example, while troubleshooting a computer, during a repair, or when supervising a service.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Puoivederecosafailtecnico
Puoi (potere)
Second‑person singular present of the modal verb *potere*, used to ask about ability or permission.
Infinitive after modal
When a modal verb appears, the main verb stays in the infinitive (vedere = ‘to see’).
cosa (relative pronoun)
Introduces a clause meaning ‘what’; can also appear as *che cosa*.
fa (fare)
Third‑person singular present of *fare* ‘to do/make’; here it describes the technician’s action.
il tecnico
Definite article + noun; *tecnico* means ‘technician’ (male).
🗨In Conversation
Puoi vedere cosa fa il tecnico?
Can you see what the technician is doing?
Sì, sto guardando il suo lavoro.
Yes, I’m watching his work.
✕Common Mistakes
Puoi vedi cosa fa il tecnico.
After a modal verb you must keep the infinitive, not conjugate the verb.
Può vedere cosa fa il tecnico?
Using the formal *può* with friends sounds overly stiff; match the register.
↔Alternatives
Riesci a vedere cosa sta facendo il tecnico?
Are you able to see what the technician is doing?
Può vedere cosa fa il tecnico?
Can you (formal) see what the technician is doing?
Guarda cosa fa il tecnico.
Look at what the technician is doing.
Cultural Tip
In informal conversation Italians use *puoi*; in a formal or professional setting you would switch to *può* (third‑person singular) to show respect. Also, Italians often prefer the progressive form *sta facendo* when emphasizing an ongoing action, especially in technical contexts.