Portuguese Phrase
Posso devolver isso mais tarde?
Meaning
‘Can I return this later?’ is a polite way to ask permission to give back an item at a later time. It uses the modal verb poder + infinitive to express a request rather than a statement of ability.
When to use
Use this sentence in shops, libraries, rental services, or any situation where you need to keep an item temporarily and want to know if returning it later is allowed.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Possodevolverissomaistarde?
Posso (poder)
First‑person singular present of poder, used to ask permission or ability: ‘Can I…’.
devolver (infinitive)
Infinitive verb meaning ‘to give back/return’; keep it in infinitive after poder.
isso (demonstrative)
Pronoun that points to a specific object the speaker is holding or referring to.
mais tarde (adverbial phrase)
Literally ‘more later’; together it means ‘later’ or ‘afterwards’.
Question intonation
In spoken Portuguese the rising intonation at the end signals a polite request.
🗨In Conversation
Posso devolver isso mais tarde?
Can I return this later?
Claro, você pode devolvê‑lo até o final da semana.
Sure, you can return it by the end of the week.
✕Common Mistakes
Pode devolver isso mais tarde?
‘pode’ is third‑person singular; you need first‑person ‘posso’ when asking about yourself.
Posso devolvo isso mais tarde?
After ‘posso’ you must keep the verb in infinitive; ‘devolvo’ is a conjugated form and is incorrect here.
↔Alternatives
Posso deixar isso para devolver depois?
Can I leave this to return later?
Seria possível devolver isso em outro momento?
Would it be possible to return this at another time?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, asking with ‘posso’ is considered very polite. Most stores will ask for a receipt or a tag when you bring the item back. In some regions people also say ‘mais tarde’ or simply ‘depois’, but ‘mais tarde’ sounds a bit more formal and is safe in any Portuguese‑speaking country.