Monday, March 9, 2020
Using the Spanish Verb Poder
Using the Spanish Verb Poder As one of the most common verbs in Spanish, poder means to be able; in its conjugated forms it is frequently translated as can or could. But partly because the English could can refer to the past, present or future, and partly because the preterite and conditional tenses of poder are often interchangeable, the use of poder isnt always straightforward. Like its English counterparts can and could, poder functions as an auxiliary verb, although in Spanish it is followed by an infinitive. With a few exceptions, most of which dont have counterparts in English, it cant stand alone. Keep in mind that poder is irregular. The -o- in the stem changes to -u- or -ue- when stressed, and the ending is shortened in the future and conditional tenses. Here are the various ways poder is used: In the Present Tense To Mean ââ¬ËCanââ¬â¢ or ââ¬ËMayââ¬â¢ The present-tense forms of poder indicate the ability, either physical ability or having permission, to do something. It is distinguished from saber, which means to know how. Thus, while one may ask, à ¿Puedes tocar el piano hoy? (Can you play the piano today?), one normally would ask, à ¿Sabes tocar el piano? (Can you play the piano? or Do you know how to play the piano?). Puedo hacer lo que quiero. (I can do what I want.)No puede trabajar los domingos. (She cant work on Sundays.)No puedo ir al cine. (I cant go to the movies.) In the Future Tense To Mean ââ¬ËWill Be Ableââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¹Ã¢â¬â¹ This is similar in usage to the present tense. Podrà © hacer lo que quiero. (Ill be able to do what I want.) No podr trabajar los domingos. (She wont be able to work on Sundays.) No podrà © ir al cine. (I wont be able to go to the movies.) In the Preterite or Imperfect To Mean ââ¬ËCouldââ¬â¢ or ââ¬ËWas Ableââ¬â¢ Which tense you use depends on whether the reference is to a one-time event (preterite) or something occurring over a period of time (imperfect). In the preterite, poder can have the sense of to manage to. Pudo salir. (He managed to leave.)No podà a salir. (He was unable to leave.)No pudo trabajar porque dormà a. (She couldnt work (that particular time) because she was sleeping.)No podà a trabajar porque dormà a con frecuencia. (She couldnt work because she was often sleeping.) To Make Polite Requestsââ¬â¹Ã¢â¬â¹ As in English, such requests are made in the form of a question. Usually the conditional form of poder is used, but (while it may seem illogical) the imperfect also can be used. à ¿Podrà as darme un lpiz? (Could you give me a pencil?) à ¿Podà as darme un lpiz? (Could you give me a pencil?) à ¿Podrà a lavarme usted los platos? (Could you wash the dishes for me?) à ¿Podà a lavarme usted los platos? (Could you wash the dishes for me?) To Express Possibility or Suggestionsââ¬â¹Ã¢â¬â¹ Either could, may, or might can be used to translate poder when it is used to indicate a possibility or offer a suggestion. In such cases, either the conditional form of poder or (again, seemingly illogically) the imperfect can be used. The imperfect form may be understood as more colloquial. Podrà amos ir al cine. (We could go to the movies.)Podà amos ir al cine. (We could go to the movies.)Podà a no haber salido. (He might not have left.)Podrà a no haber salido. (He might not have left.) To Express What Could Have Happened but Didnââ¬â¢tââ¬â¹Ã¢â¬â¹ The preterite is usually used in such cases, although the conditional can be used when directly criticizing somebody. Pudo salir a las tres. (She could have left at 3 oclock.)Pienso en lo que pudo ser. (Im thinking about what might have been.)Me lo podà as haber dicho. (You could have told me.) Poderà as a Noun The nounà poderà means power or authority. The adjective form isà poderoso, powerful. Related terms includeà potenteà (potent or powerful),à potenciaà (power, potency, strength) andà potencialà (potential). Poderà Standing Alone as a Verb These are the main exceptions to the rule thatà poderà must be followed by an infinitive: When the infinitive is implied by the context.à Noà puedo.à (I cant.) à ¿Quià ©nà puedeà ms? (Who can do more?)In the impersonal expressionà puedeà que, usually followed by a verb in the subjunctive, meaning perhaps or it is possible.à Puedeà queà salga.à (Perhaps he will leave.)In the expressionà poderà con, translated in various ways such as to manage or to cope.à Noà puedoà conà ella. (I cant handle her.)à Noà puedoà conà elà enojo.à (I cant deal with the anger.)In various expressions where it means roughly could do. La curiosidad pudo ms que el miedo (roughly, his curiosity overcame his fear).à Noà pudeà menosà queà dar gracias.à (I couldnt do anything less than giving thanks.)In the idiomà a ms noà poder, which means as much as possible or to the utmost. Jugaba a ms no poder.à (He played as hard as he could.)à Esà feoà a ms noà poder.à (Its as ugly as could be.)In the expressionà à ¿Seà puede?, mean ing Can I come in? Key Takeaways Although poder can be used alone, it most often is used an auxilary verb to mean can or be able to.As an auxiliary verb, poder is followed by an infinitive.The infinitive form, poder, can be used as a noun to refer to power or authority.
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