poder + Infinitive
Ability/Permission
Use 'poder' + another verb to say 'can do something'.
How It Works
The verb poder is one of the most common verbs in Spanish. It expresses ability, permission or possibility, according to context.
Structure:
Subject + poder (conjugated) + infinitive verb
First, you need to conjugate poder. It's an irregular, stem-changing verb where the 'o' changes to 'ue' in the stressed present-indicative stem forms:
- yo puedo (I can)
- tú puedes (you can)
- él/ella/usted puede (he/she/you can)
- nosotros/as podemos (we can)
- vosotros/as podéis (you all can)
- ellos/ellas/ustedes pueden (they/you all can)
Note that 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' forms do not have the stem change.
After the conjugated form of poder, you simply add the second verb in its infinitive form (the basic form ending in -ar, -er, or -ir).
1. Expressing Ability:
Él puede nadar. (He can swim.)
2. Asking for/Giving Permission:
¿Puedo abrir la ventana? (Can I open the window?)
Sí, puedes abrirla. (Yes, you can open it.)
Possibility And An Understood Action
Puede llover means it may rain; no person is receiving permission. A previous action can remain understood: ¿Puedes venir? — Hoy no puedo. In the infinitive construction, hablar stays unconjugated, but an object pronoun can precede poder or attach to the infinitive: Lo puedo hacer / Puedo hacerlo. With Rioplatense vos, the present form is podés.
Examples (5)
- Yo puedo hablar español.
I can speak Spanish.
Word by Word: I can to speak Spanish.
'Puedo' is the 'yo' form of poder, followed by the infinitive 'hablar'.
- ¿Puedes ayudarme, por favor?
Can you help me, please?
Word by Word: Can you to help me, please?
This is a common way to ask for help. 'Puedes' is the 'tú' form.
- Ella no puede venir a la fiesta.
She can't come to the party.
Word by Word: She not can to come to the party.
To make it negative, simply put 'no' before the conjugated form of 'poder'.
- ¿Puedo ir al baño?
Can I go to the bathroom?
Word by Word: Can I to go to the bathroom?
A very common phrase for asking permission.
- Nosotros podemos empezar el proyecto mañana.
We can start the project tomorrow.
Word by Word: We can to start the project tomorrow.
The 'nosotros' form, 'podemos', does not have the o→ue stem change.
Common Mistakes
Conjugating the second verb after 'poder'.
Yo puedo hablo español.Yo puedo hablar español.In this poder + infinitive construction, use hablar rather than hablo. This rule does not require a second written verb in every use of poder: No puedo can leave the action understood.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use 'poder + infinitive', you need to understand how to conjugate verbs for different subjects and be comfortable with the 'verb + infinitive' structure where only the first verb changes.
- -o/-es/-e/-emos/-éis/-enPresent Tense -ER Verbs
Since 'poder' is an -er verb, the learner needs to be familiar with standard -er conjugation patterns, even though 'poder' has a stem change.
Level 1 - tener que + InfinitiveObligation with Tener
This pattern introduces the concept of using a conjugated auxiliary verb followed by an infinitive to express modality, which is the same structural logic used for 'poder + infinitive'.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- o→ueStem-Changing Verbs O→UE
In the present-indicative chart, poder has puedo, puedes, puede and pueden, but podemos and podéis. Rioplatense vos podés also retains o; other tenses and moods need their own forms.
Level 1 - querer + InfinitiveWant to
This follows the same structure (conjugated verb + infinitive) but expresses desire ('want to') instead of ability ('can'). It's helpful to compare them: 'Puedo ir' (I can go) vs. 'Quiero ir' (I want to go).
Level 1 - puedo/puedes/puede/podemos/puedenPoder Present Tense
This is the direct conjugation of the verb 'poder' in the present tense. This pattern focuses specifically on memorizing these forms, which are used in the 'poder + infinitive' structure.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice poder + Infinitive in Bubblegum
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