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Expressing Ability and Possibility with Poder
The Spanish verb poder is essential for expressing ability, possibility, permission, and making polite requests. This irregular verb translates to “to be able to” or “can” and is used in countless everyday situations. Mastering poder will significantly enhance your ability to discuss capabilities, opportunities, and polite interactions in Spanish.
Poder Conjugation Charts
Present Tense Conjugation
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | puedo | Yo puedo hablar español. (I can speak Spanish.) |
| TĂş | puedes | TĂş puedes ayudar. (You can help.) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | puede | Ella puede venir. (She can come.) |
| Nosotros | podemos | Nosotros podemos trabajar. (We can work.) |
| Vosotros | podéis | Vosotros podéis ganar. (You all can win.) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | pueden | Ellos pueden estudiar. (They can study.) |
Preterite Tense Conjugation
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | pude | Yo pude terminar el trabajo. (I managed to finish the work.) |
| TĂş | pudiste | TĂş pudiste ayudar. (You managed to help.) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | pudo | Él pudo resolver el problema. (He managed to solve the problem.) |
| Nosotros | pudimos | Nosotros pudimos llegar a tiempo. (We managed to arrive on time.) |
| Vosotros | pudisteis | Vosotros pudisteis completar la tarea. (You all managed to complete the task.) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | pudieron | Ellos pudieron encontrar el camino. (They managed to find the way.) |
Imperfect Tense Conjugation
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | podĂa | Yo podĂa correr rápido. (I could run fast.) |
| TĂş | podĂas | TĂş podĂas cantar bien. (You could sing well.) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | podĂa | Mi hermano podĂa nadar. (My brother could swim.) |
| Nosotros | podĂamos | Nosotros podĂamos visitarlos. (We could visit them.) |
| Vosotros | podĂais | Vosotros podĂais ayudar. (You all could help.) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | podĂan | Ellos podĂan trabajar juntos. (They could work together.) |
[SEE FULL PODER CONJUGATION PAGE]
View complete conjugation tables for all tenses of Poder.
Expressing Ability and Possibility
Poder expresses different types of capability:
- Ability: Puedo levantar 50 kilos. (I can lift 50 kilos.)
- Possibility: Puede llover mañana. (It might rain tomorrow.)
- Permission: ÂżPuedo salir? (May I leave?)
Polite Requests with Poder
Poder is commonly used for polite requests:
- ÂżPuedo ayudarte? (Can I help you?)
- ÂżPodrĂa hablar más despacio? (Could you speak more slowly?)
- ÂżPuedes pasarme la sal? (Can you pass me the salt?)
Common Phrases with Poder
- no poder más (to be unable to continue)
- poder con (to be able to handle)
- hasta donde pueda (as far as I can)
- ser posible (to be possible – alternative expression)
Ready to Master Poder Completely?
You’ve learned the conjugations and rules – now it’s time to practice!
[TAKE THE PODER CONJUGATION QUIZ]
*Test your knowledge with our interactive 20-question quiz covering all tenses and uses of Poder.*
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