Present of poder
Poder (to be able) is irregular in the present: pòdi, pòdes, pòt, podèm, podètz, pòdon.
How It Works
Poder means to be able, so it covers can and may. It has the same open ò as voler.
| Who | poder |
|---|---|
| ieu | pòdi |
| tu | pòdes |
| el, ela | pòt |
| nosautres | podèm |
| vosautres | podètz |
| eles, elas | pòdon |
The Vèrbòc also lists pòs for tu. This course uses pòdes.
Use poder with an infinitive and no word between them: Pòdi parlar? (May I speak?). To say that you cannot, put pas after the verb: Podèm pas (We cannot).
Poder also asks for permission: Pòdi dintrar? (May I come in?) The plural forms podèm and podètz have a plain o, because the stress moves to the ending.
Examples (5)
- Pòdes venir deman?
Can you come tomorrow?
Pòdes: the tu form.
- Podèm pas parlar aicí.
We cannot talk here.
Podèm: plain o, with pas after the verb.
- Maria pòt pas venir.
Maria cannot come.
Pòt: the third person ends in -t.
- Pòdi parlar amb Joan?
May I talk with Joan?
Pòdi: ò in the stressed form.
- Los dròlles pòdon jogar aicí.
The children can play here.
Pòdon: the plural.
Common Mistakes
Plain vowel in a stressed form
Podi venir deman.Pòdi venir deman.In ieu, the stem is stressed, so the o opens: pòdi.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Poder uses the same endings as the -re present and is first met in the question Pòdes repetir?, so both come first.
- Present of -re Verbs
Know the present of -re verbs, because poder uses the same endings with a bare third person: pòdi, pòdes, pòt, like vendi, vendes, vend.
Level 2 - compreni pasI Do Not Understand
Know Compreni pas, because it is where learners first meet poder, in the request to repeat: Pòdes repetir? Podètz repetir, se vos plai?
Level 1
Related Patterns
- poder, voler, saber, dever + InfinitiveVerbs Followed by an Infinitive
Poder takes a second verb in the infinitive.
Level 2 - Present of voler
Voler has the same open ò.
Level 2 - Present of saber
Saber is another verb of ability.
Level 2 - Negation With pas
Pas goes after the verb: Podèm pas.
Level 1 - The Infinitive
The verb after poder is an infinitive.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice Present of poder in Bubblegum
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