Imperfect vs. Preterite

'Podías' is the imperfect past tense, used only when talking directly to one person you know well (the 'tú' form). It always refers to an action or state in the past.

Tense and Subject

This tense is used for ongoing, repetitive, or habitual actions in the past (like 'used to' in English), or to describe the setting or background of a past story.

The Imperfect Tense (El Imperfecto)

Think of 'podías' as describing something that was true for a long time: 'For many years, you could...' or 'When you were young, you could...'

Focus on Duration

Extremely common way to describe an ability, capacity, or permission that existed continuously or habitually in the past.

'Podías' is the familiar (tú) imperfect past tense of the verb 'poder' (to be able to). It means 'you could' or 'you were able to,' describing ability, capacity, or permission that existed over a period of time in the past.

podías

Complete Conjugation Tables

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

future

imperfect

conditional

preterite

imperative

negative

affirmative

subjunctive

present

imperfect

Practice Conjugations