puedo/puedes/puede/podemos/pueden

Poder Present Tense

Level 1

poder = can / to be able to

How It Works

Poder is a very common Spanish verb that means "to be able to," "can," or "may." It's used to talk about what someone is capable of doing or to ask for and grant permission.

Structure:
The most common structure is: Subject + conjugated form of poder + infinitive verb.
Example: Yo puedo hablar español. (I can speak Spanish.)

Irregular Conjugation (o → ue):
Poder is an o→ue stem-changing verb. This means the 'o' in the stem changes to 'ue' in puedo, puedes, puede and pueden; nosotros podemos and vosotros podéis keep o.

Present Tense Conjugations:

  • yo puedo (I can)
  • tú puedes (you can, informal)
  • él/ella/usted puede (he/she/you can, formal)
  • nosotros/as podemos (we can) - No stem change!
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes pueden (they/you all can)

Main Uses:
1. Ability: To say someone can or cannot do something.
Mi hermano puede correr muy rápido. (My brother can run very fast.)

2. Permission: To ask for or give permission.
¿Puedo ir al baño? (May I go to the bathroom?)
Sí, puedes ir. (Yes, you may go.)

Vosotros and Vos
Vosotros uses podéis. Common voseo uses vos podés, without the diphthong; other voseo patterns vary regionally.

Possibility and Requests
Puede llover means “It may rain,” a possibility rather than ability or permission. ¿Puedes cerrar la ventana, por favor? is a request. Puede que llueva is a separate finite construction with que and subjunctive.

Pronoun Position
Both Te podemos ayudar and Podemos ayudarte are possible. In the infinitive pattern, do not put an unattached object pronoun between poder and the infinitive.

Examples (5)

  1. Yo puedo hablar dos idiomas.

    I can speak two languages.

    Word by Word: I can speak two languages.

  2. ¿Puedes cerrar la ventana, por favor?

    Can you close the window, please?

    Word by Word: Can you close the window, please?

  3. Ella no puede venir hoy porque está enferma.

    She can't come today because she is sick.

    Word by Word: She not can come today because is sick.

  4. Nosotros podemos ayudarte con la mudanza.

    We can help you with the move.

    Word by Word: We can help you with the move.

  5. ¿Pueden ustedes repetir la pregunta?

    Can you all repeat the question?

    Word by Word: Can you all repeat the question?

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting the o→ue stem change.

    Yo podo nadar.
    Yo puedo nadar.

    For poder with yo, use puedo. Nosotros podemos, vosotros podéis and common vos podés keep o. Podo is a form of podar (“prune”), not the intended poder form.

  • Conjugating the verb that follows 'poder'.

    Ella puede canta muy bien.
    Ella puede cantar muy bien.

    In poder + infinitive, use cantar without conjugating it. A separate finite construction needs que, as in Puede que cante, with a different meaning (“They may sing”).

How It Connects

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puedo/puedes/puede/podemos/puedenLevel 1Poder Present Tense

Learn This First

To learn the present tense of 'poder', you need to be familiar with Spanish subject pronouns to know which form to use. Additionally, since 'poder' follows the general pattern of -er verbs (with a stem change), knowing the standard -er verb endings provides the necessary foundation for its conjugation.

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poder