Mastering ‘Poder’: The Ultimate Spanish Conjugation Guide

Understanding how to conjugate the Spanish verb poder (to be able to, can) is crucial for expressing ability, possibility, and permission. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of poder conjugations across various tenses and moods, equipping you with the knowledge to use this essential verb accurately and confidently. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this article will help you master poder and enhance your Spanish fluency.

This article is designed for students of all levels, from those just starting their Spanish journey to advanced learners looking to refine their grammar skills. By the end of this guide, you will have a solid understanding of poder conjugation and its usage in real-world contexts, enabling you to communicate more effectively in Spanish.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Definition of ‘Poder’
3. Structural Breakdown
4. Conjugation Charts
   • Present Indicative
   • Preterite Indicative
   • Imperfect Indicative
   • Future Indicative
   • Conditional Indicative
   • Present Subjunctive
   • Imperfect Subjunctive
   • Future Subjunctive (Rare)
   • Imperative (Commands)
5. Examples of ‘Poder’ in Use
   • Present Tense Examples
   • Past Tense Examples
   • Future and Conditional Tense Examples
   • Subjunctive Mood Examples
6. Usage Rules for ‘Poder’
7. Common Mistakes with ‘Poder’
8. Practice Exercises
9. Advanced Topics
10. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
11. Conclusion

Definition of ‘Poder’

The Spanish verb poder is an irregular verb that primarily means “to be able to” or “can.” It expresses the ability to do something, the possibility of something happening, or permission to perform an action. Poder is a modal verb, meaning it often accompanies another verb in the infinitive form to express a specific modality (ability, possibility, permission, etc.).

As a modal verb, poder adds nuance to the main verb, indicating the degree of certainty or capability involved. For instance, “Puedo hablar español” (I can speak Spanish) indicates the speaker’s ability, while “Puede llover mañana” (It might rain tomorrow) expresses possibility. Understanding these nuances is vital for accurate and effective communication in Spanish.

The classification of poder is that of an **irregular -er verb**. The irregularity mainly stems from the stem-changing behavior it exhibits in certain tenses. Knowing this classification helps learners anticipate and correctly apply the conjugation rules. The function of poder is to act as an auxiliary verb that modifies the meaning of another verb by adding the concept of ability, permission, or possibility. The contexts in which poder is used are varied and extensive, ranging from everyday conversations about skills and permissions to more formal discussions about potential outcomes and hypothetical situations.

Structural Breakdown

The structure of poder conjugation revolves around its irregular stem and regular endings. The stem changes in the present indicative and present subjunctive, which are crucial to understand. The stem changes from o to ue in most forms, but remains o in the nosotros and vosotros forms in the present indicative.

Specifically, let’s break down the structural elements:

• Stem Change: In the present indicative and present subjunctive, the “o” in the stem changes to “ue” except in the nosotros and vosotros forms of the present indicative.
• Regular Endings: Outside of the stem changes, poder generally follows the regular -er verb endings for each tense.
• Infinitive Form: Poder is always followed by a verb in its infinitive form. This structure is essential for expressing what one is able to do. For example, “Puedo nadar” (I can swim).

Understanding these structural elements allows you to predict and apply the correct conjugations of poder in various contexts, making your Spanish more accurate and fluent. Recognizing the pattern of stem changes and regular endings is key to mastering the verb.

Conjugation Charts

The following sections detail the conjugation of poder across different tenses and moods. Each chart includes the subject pronouns for clarity.

Present Indicative

The present indicative tense is used to express what someone can do or is able to do in the present. Note the stem change from “o” to “ue” in most forms.

Pronoun	Conjugation	English Translation
Yo	Puedo	I can, I am able to
Tú	Puedes	You can, You are able to
Él/Ella/Usted	Puede	He/She/You (formal) can, is/are able to
Nosotros/Nosotras	Podemos	We can, We are able to
Vosotros/Vosotras	Podéis	You (plural, informal) can, are able to
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Pueden	They/You (plural, formal) can, are able to

Preterite Indicative

The preterite indicative tense is used to express what someone was able to do or could do in the past (completed action).

Pronoun	Conjugation	English Translation
Yo	Pude	I could, I was able to
Tú	Pudiste	You could, You were able to
Él/Ella/Usted	Pudo	He/She/You (formal) could, was able to
Nosotros/Nosotras	Pudimos	We could, We were able to
Vosotros/Vosotras	Pudisteis	You (plural, informal) could, were able to
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Pudieron	They/You (plural, formal) could, were able to

Imperfect Indicative

The imperfect indicative tense is used to express what someone was able to do or could do in the past (ongoing or habitual action).

Pronoun	Conjugation	English Translation
Yo	Podía	I could, I was able to, I used to be able to
Tú	Podías	You could, You were able to, You used to be able to
Él/Ella/Usted	Podía	He/She/You (formal) could, was able to, used to be able to
Nosotros/Nosotras	Podíamos	We could, We were able to, We used to be able to
Vosotros/Vosotras	Podíais	You (plural, informal) could, were able to, used to be able to
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Podían	They/You (plural, formal) could, were able to, used to be able to

Future Indicative

The future indicative tense is used to express what someone will be able to do or will can do in the future.

Pronoun	Conjugation	English Translation
Yo	Podré	I will be able to, I will can
Tú	Podrás	You will be able to, You will can
Él/Ella/Usted	Podrá	He/She/You (formal) will be able to, will can
Nosotros/Nosotras	Podremos	We will be able to, We will can
Vosotros/Vosotras	Podréis	You (plural, informal) will be able to, will can
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Podrán	They/You (plural, formal) will be able to, will can

Conditional Indicative

The conditional indicative tense is used to express what someone would be able to do or would can do under certain conditions.

Pronoun	Conjugation	English Translation
Yo	Podría	I would be able to, I would can
Tú	Podrías	You would be able to, You would can
Él/Ella/Usted	Podría	He/She/You (formal) would be able to, would can
Nosotros/Nosotras	Podríamos	We would be able to, We would can
Vosotros/Vosotras	Podríais	You (plural, informal) would be able to, would can
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Podrían	They/You (plural, formal) would be able to, would can

Present Subjunctive

The present subjunctive mood is used to express doubts, wishes, possibilities, or hypothetical situations. Note the stem change from “o” to “ue” in all forms.

Pronoun	Conjugation	English Translation
Yo	Pueda	That I can, That I may be able to
Tú	Puedas	That you can, That you may be able to
Él/Ella/Usted	Pueda	That he/she/you (formal) can, That he/she/you (formal) may be able to
Nosotros/Nosotras	Podamos	That we can, That we may be able to
Vosotros/Vosotras	Podáis	That you (plural, informal) can, That you (plural, informal) may be able to
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Puedan	That they/you (plural, formal) can, That they/you (plural, formal) may be able to

Imperfect Subjunctive

The imperfect subjunctive mood is used to express past doubts, wishes, or hypothetical situations. There are two possible conjugations, but the “-ra” form is more commonly used.

We will show both.

Pronoun	-ra Conjugation	-se Conjugation	English Translation
Yo	Pudiera	Pudiese	That I could, That I might be able to
Tú	Pudieras	Pudieses	That you could, That you might be able to
Él/Ella/Usted	Pudiera	Pudiese	That he/she/you (formal) could, That he/she/you (formal) might be able to
Nosotros/Nosotras	Pudiéramos	Pudiésemos	That we could, That we might be able to
Vosotros/Vosotras	Pudierais	Pudieseis	That you (plural, informal) could, That you (plural, informal) might be able to
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Pudieran	Pudiesen	That they/you (plural, formal) could, That they/you (formal) might be able to

Future Subjunctive (Rare)

The future subjunctive is rarely used in modern Spanish. It is mostly found in legal or formal contexts.

It expresses a possible action in the future.

Pronoun	Conjugation	English Translation
Yo	Pudiere	That I should be able to
Tú	Pudieres	That you should be able to
Él/Ella/Usted	Pudiere	That he/she/you (formal) should be able to
Nosotros/Nosotras	Pudiéremos	That we should be able to
Vosotros/Vosotras	Pudiereis	That you (plural, informal) should be able to
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Pudieren	That they/you (plural, formal) should be able to

Imperative (Commands)

The imperative mood is used to give commands or instructions. Poder itself isn’t typically used in the imperative, as it doesn’t make sense to command someone to “be able to.” However, you can use related phrases to express commands related to permission.

While poder doesn’t have direct imperative forms, you might use constructions like “Que pueda pasar” (Let him/her/you pass) which utilizes the subjunctive to grant permission.

Examples of ‘Poder’ in Use

This section provides examples of poder used in various tenses and moods to illustrate its practical application.

Present Tense Examples

These examples demonstrate the use of poder in the present indicative tense.

Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo puedo ayudarte con eso.	I can help you with that.
¿Puedes hablar más despacio, por favor?	Can you speak slower, please?
Ella puede tocar el piano muy bien.	She can play the piano very well.
Nosotros podemos ir al cine esta noche.	We can go to the movies tonight.
Vosotros podéis venir a mi fiesta si queréis.	You (plural, informal) can come to my party if you want.
Ellos no pueden entrar sin invitación.	They cannot enter without an invitation.
Usted puede sentarse aquí, señor.	You (formal) can sit here, sir.
¿Puedo usar tu teléfono?	Can I use your phone?
Mi hermano puede correr muy rápido.	My brother can run very fast.
No puedo creer lo que pasó.	I can’t believe what happened.
¿Puedes oír el ruido?	Can you hear the noise?
El bebé ya puede caminar.	The baby can already walk.
Hoy no podemos salir porque tenemos mucho trabajo.	Today we can’t go out because we have a lot of work.
Si queréis, podéis quedaros a cenar.	If you want, you (plural, informal) can stay for dinner.
Los niños ya pueden leer.	The children can already read.
¿Puedo tener un vaso de agua, por favor?	Can I have a glass of water, please?
Mi abuela ya no puede ver bien.	My grandmother can’t see well anymore.
¿Puedes ayudarme con esta tarea?	Can you help me with this task?
Nosotros podemos hablar francés.	We can speak French.
Ellas pueden cantar muy bien.	They can sing very well.

Past Tense Examples

These examples demonstrate the use of poder in the preterite and imperfect indicative tenses.

Example Sentence	Tense	English Translation
No pude ir a la fiesta ayer.	Preterite	I couldn’t go to the party yesterday.
¿Pudiste terminar el trabajo a tiempo?	Preterite	Were you able to finish the work on time?
Antes, él podía correr muy rápido.	Imperfect	Before, he could run very fast.
Nosotros no podíamos salir cuando éramos niños.	Imperfect	We couldn’t go out when we were children.
Vosotros pudisteis resolver el problema fácilmente.	Preterite	You (plural, informal) were able to solve the problem easily.
Ellas no pudieron encontrar las llaves.	Preterite	They couldn’t find the keys.
Cuando era joven, podía bailar toda la noche.	Imperfect	When I was young, I could dance all night.
No pude dormir anoche.	Preterite	I couldn’t sleep last night.
¿Podías hablar inglés cuando eras niño?	Imperfect	Could you speak English when you were a child?
Yo pude ver el concierto desde la primera fila.	Preterite	I was able to see the concert from the first row.
Antes podíamos ir a la playa cada fin de semana.	Imperfect	Before we could go to the beach every weekend.
¿Pudisteis contactar con ellos?	Preterite	Were you (plural, informal) able to contact them?
Ellos no podían entender lo que decía.	Imperfect	They couldn’t understand what he was saying.
No pude evitar reírme.	Preterite	I couldn’t help but laugh.
De niño, podía trepar a los árboles fácilmente.	Imperfect	As a child, I could climb trees easily.
¿Pudiste comprar el regalo?	Preterite	Were you able to buy the gift?
Antes, nosotros podíamos comer de todo sin engordar.	Imperfect	Before, we could eat everything without gaining weight.
Vosotros no pudisteis llegar a tiempo.	Preterite	You (plural, informal) weren’t able to arrive on time.
Ellas podían cantar en el coro de la iglesia.	Imperfect	They could sing in the church choir.
Yo no pude resolver el problema.	Preterite	I couldn’t solve the problem.

Future and Conditional Tense Examples

These examples demonstrate the use of poder in the future and conditional indicative tenses.

Example Sentence	Tense	English Translation
Podré ayudarte mañana.	Future	I will be able to help you tomorrow.
¿Podrás venir a mi casa el sábado?	Future	Will you be able to come to my house on Saturday?
Si tuviera tiempo, podría viajar por el mundo.	Conditional	If I had time, I would be able to travel the world.
Nosotros podremos comprar una casa nueva el año que viene.	Future	We will be able to buy a new house next year.
Vosotros podríais aprender español si estudiarais más.	Conditional	You (plural, informal) would be able to learn Spanish if you studied more.
Ellos podrán asistir a la conferencia si consiguen los billetes.	Future	They will be able to attend the conference if they get the tickets.
Si estudiaras, podrías aprobar el examen.	Conditional	If you studied, you would be able to pass the exam.
No podré ir a la boda.	Future	I won’t be able to go to the wedding.
¿Podrías ayudarme con esto?	Conditional	Could you help me with this? (Polite request)
Yo podré hablar japonés algún día.	Future	I will be able to speak Japanese someday.
Nosotros podríamos ir de vacaciones si tuviéramos dinero.	Conditional	We could go on vacation if we had money.
¿Podréis venir a vernos pronto?	Future	Will you (plural, informal) be able to come see us soon?
Ellos podrían vivir en otro país si quisieran.	Conditional	They could live in another country if they wanted to.
Podré terminar el proyecto a tiempo.	Future	I will be able to finish the project on time.
Si tuviera más tiempo, podría leer más libros.	Conditional	If I had more time, I could read more books.
¿Podrás recogerme en el aeropuerto?	Future	Will you be able to pick me up at the airport?
Nosotros podríamos comprar un coche nuevo.	Conditional	We could buy a new car.
Vosotros podréis ver el partido en directo.	Future	You (plural, informal) will be able to watch the game live.
Ellas podrían visitarnos este verano.	Conditional	They could visit us this summer.
Yo podré hablar contigo más tarde.	Future	I will be able to talk to you later.

Subjunctive Mood Examples

These examples demonstrate the use of poder in the present and imperfect subjunctive moods.

Example Sentence	Mood	English Translation
Es importante que pueda venir.	Present Subjunctive	It’s important that he/she can come.
Dudo que él pueda hacerlo.	Present Subjunctive	I doubt that he can do it.
Si yo pudiera, te ayudaría.	Imperfect Subjunctive	If I could, I would help you.
Quería que nosotros pudiéramos ir.	Imperfect Subjunctive	I wanted us to be able to go.
Es necesario que vosotros podáis estar aquí a tiempo.	Present Subjunctive	It’s necessary that you (plural, informal) can be here on time.
No creía que ellas pudieran ganar.	Imperfect Subjunctive	I didn’t believe that they could win.
Ojalá pueda ir a la playa este verano.	Present Subjunctive	I wish I could go to the beach this summer.
Es posible que no pueda venir.	Present Subjunctive	It’s possible that I can’t come.
Si pudiera viajar, iría a Japón.	Imperfect Subjunctive	If I could travel, I would go to Japan.
Esperaba que pudiéramos vernos pronto.	Imperfect Subjunctive	I was hoping that we could see each other soon.
Espero que puedas venir a la fiesta.	Present Subjunctive	I hope you can come to the party.
No creo que él pueda resolver el problema.	Present Subjunctive	I don’t think he can solve the problem.
Si yo pudiera hablar todos los idiomas, sería feliz.	Imperfect Subjunctive	If I could speak all languages, I would be happy.
Queríamos que nosotros pudiéramos ayudar más.	Imperfect Subjunctive	We wanted us to be able to help more.
Es importante que puedan llegar a tiempo.	Present Subjunctive	It’s important that they can arrive on time.
No creía que pudieras hacerlo solo.	Imperfect Subjunctive	I didn’t believe you could do it alone.
Ojalá pueda encontrar un buen trabajo.	Present Subjunctive	I wish I could find a good job.
Es posible que no podamos ir de vacaciones este año.	Present Subjunctive	It’s possible that we can’t go on vacation this year.
Si pudiera cambiar el pasado, lo haría.	Imperfect Subjunctive	If I could change the past, I would.
Esperaba que pudieras venir a mi cumpleaños.	Imperfect Subjunctive	I was hoping that you could come to my birthday.

Usage Rules for ‘Poder’

The verb poder follows specific rules in Spanish grammar. Here are the key usage rules:

1. Followed by an Infinitive: Poder is always followed by a verb in the infinitive form. This indicates the action that someone is able to perform. For example, “Puedo cantar” (I can sing).
2. Expressing Ability: Use poder to express the ability to do something. For example, “Ella puede hablar francés” (She can speak French).
3. Expressing Possibility: Use poder to express the possibility of something happening. For example, “Puede llover mañana” (It might rain tomorrow).
4. Expressing Permission: Use poder to ask for or grant permission. For example, “¿Puedo ir al baño?” (Can I go to the bathroom?).
5. Stem Changes: Remember the stem changes in the present indicative and present subjunctive tenses. The “o” changes to “ue” except in the nosotros and vosotros forms of the present indicative.
6. Subjunctive Usage: In the subjunctive mood, poder is used to express doubt, uncertainty, wishes, and hypothetical situations. It’s often used after expressions like “es importante que” (it’s important

   that) or “dudo que” (I doubt that).

7. Conditional Tense: The conditional tense of poder (podría) is often used to make polite requests or suggestions. For example, “¿Podrías ayudarme?” (Could you help me?).

Common Mistakes with ‘Poder’

Learners often make common mistakes when using poder. Being aware of these errors can help you avoid them.

• Forgetting the Stem Change: One of the most common mistakes is forgetting the stem change from “o” to “ue” in the present indicative and present subjunctive tenses.
  • Incorrect: Yo podo, Tú podes
  • Correct: Yo puedo, Tú puedes
• Incorrect Verb Form After Poder: Poder must always be followed by a verb in the infinitive form.
  • Incorrect: Yo puedo canto.
  • Correct: Yo puedo cantar.
• Misusing Preterite vs. Imperfect: Confusing the preterite and imperfect tenses can lead to misunderstandings. Use the preterite for completed actions and the imperfect for ongoing or habitual actions in the past.
  • Incorrect: Yo podía ir ayer (when you mean you were unable to go at a specific time).
  • Correct: Yo pude ir ayer (I was able to go yesterday).
• Incorrect Subjunctive Usage: Using the indicative instead of the subjunctive after expressions of doubt or uncertainty.
  • Incorrect: Dudo que él puede hacerlo.
  • Correct: Dudo que él pueda hacerlo.
• Not using ‘poder’ with the infinitive: Sometimes learners forget to use the infinitive after ‘poder’.
  • Incorrect: Yo puedo nadando.
  • Correct: Yo puedo nadar.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding of poder with these practice exercises. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of poder.

Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, consider these more complex aspects of using poder:

• Poder in complex sentences: Explore how poder interacts with other verbs and clauses in more complex sentence structures.
• Idiomatic expressions with poder: Investigate common idiomatic expressions that include poder, such as “no poder más” (to not be able to take it anymore).
• Regional variations: Be aware that the usage and frequency of poder can vary slightly between different Spanish-speaking regions.
• Poder with other modal verbs: Understand how poder can be combined with other modal verbs for nuanced expressions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion

Mastering the conjugation and usage of poder is essential for effective communication in Spanish. By understanding its various forms, tenses, and moods, you can express ability, possibility, and permission with confidence. Remember to practice regularly and pay attention to common mistakes to improve your fluency. With consistent effort, you will be able to use poder accurately and naturally in your Spanish conversations and writing.