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 ‘Can’ or ‘May’ 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,  ¿Puedes tocar el piano hoy? (Can you play the piano today?), one normally would ask,  ¿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 ‘Will Be Able’​​ 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 ‘Could’ or ‘Was Able’ 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 Requests​​ 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.  ¿Podrà ­as darme un lpiz? (Could you give me a pencil?)  ¿Podà ­as darme un lpiz? (Could you give me a pencil?)  ¿Podrà ­a lavarme usted los platos? (Could you wash the dishes for me?)  ¿Podà ­a lavarme usted los platos? (Could you wash the dishes for me?) To Express Possibility or Suggestions​​ 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 Didn’t​​ 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.) Poder  as a Noun The noun  poder  means power or authority. The adjective form is  poderoso, powerful. Related terms include  potente  (potent or powerful),  potencia  (power, potency, strength) and  potencial  (potential). Poder  Standing Alone as a Verb These are the main exceptions to the rule that  poder  must be followed by an infinitive: When the infinitive is implied by the context.  No  puedo.  (I cant.)  ¿Quià ©n  puede  ms? (Who can do more?)In the impersonal expression  puede  que, usually followed by a verb in the subjunctive, meaning perhaps or it is possible.  Puede  que  salga.  (Perhaps he will leave.)In the expression  poder  con, translated in various ways such as to manage or to cope.  No  puedo  con  ella. (I cant handle her.)  No  puedo  con  el  enojo.  (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).  No  pude  menos  que  dar gracias.  (I couldnt do anything less than giving thanks.)In the idiom  a ms no  poder, which means as much as possible or to the utmost. Jugaba a ms no poder.  (He played as hard as he could.)  Es  feo  a ms no  poder.  (Its as ugly as could be.)In the expression  Ã‚ ¿Se  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.