Pudimos vs. Podíamos

"Pudimos" is used when you are talking about a specific instance in the past where you *succeeded* or *failed* (if using 'no') to do something. It shows a completed action or outcome.

The Power of the Preterite

The verb 'poder' (to be able to) is very irregular in the past. Notice how the stem changes from 'pod-' to 'pud-' in this tense: 'pude, pudiste, pudo, **pudimos**'.

Irregular Stem

When you say 'No pudimos' (We couldn't), it means you tried and failed in that specific moment. This is the most common use of the preterite tense of 'poder'.

Past Failure

Extremely common. This is the main way to talk about successfully doing something in the past.

Learn the meaning and correct usage of 'pudimos,' the first-person plural preterite of the irregular verb 'poder' (we were able to/we managed to). Includes common mistakes and examples.

pudimos

Complete Conjugation Tables

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

future

imperfect

conditional

preterite

imperative

negative

affirmative

subjunctive

present

imperfect

Practice Conjugations