poder
/poh-DEHR/
to be able to
As a verb, poder translates to 'to be able to' or 'can,' expressing general ability or capacity.
poder(Verb)
to be able to
?general ability or capacity
,can
?general ability or capacity
to manage to
?implying success after an effort
📝 In Action
Yo puedo hablar español.
A1I can speak Spanish.
Ella no pudo venir a la fiesta.
A2She wasn't able to come to the party.
Nosotros podemos levantar la mesa juntos.
A1We can lift the table together.
💡 Grammar Points
The Magic Formula: poder + verb
To say you 'can do' something, just use the right form of 'poder' followed by the basic '-ar', '-er', or '-ir' form of the action verb. For example, 'puedo' (I can) + 'correr' (to run) = 'Puedo correr' (I can run). Easy!
❌ Common Pitfalls
Finished Action vs. Ongoing Ability in the Past
Mistake: "Using 'podía' when you mean you succeeded at something once."
Correction: Use 'pude' for 'I managed to/succeeded' at a specific moment. Use 'podía' for 'I was able to/could' as a general ability in the past. 'No pude abrir la puerta' (I couldn't get the door open), vs. 'Cuando era niño, no podía nadar' (When I was a kid, I couldn't swim).
When used in a question, poder (may/can) is used to ask for permission or make a polite request.
📝 In Action
¿Puedo ir al baño, por favor?
A1May I go to the bathroom, please?
¿Puedes pasarme la sal?
A1Can you pass me the salt?
¿Podría ayudarme?
A2Could you help me?
⭐ Usage Tips
Being Extra Polite
To sound more polite when asking for something, use the conditional form 'podría'. It's the difference between 'Can you help?' ('¿Puedes ayudarme?') and the softer 'Could you help?' ('¿Podría ayudarme?').
Poder (may/might/could) is also used to express possibility or uncertainty about a future event.
📝 In Action
Puede llover más tarde.
A2It might rain later.
El tren puede llegar con retraso.
B1The train could arrive late.
Puede que no sea la mejor idea.
B1It may not be the best idea.
💡 Grammar Points
Expressing Uncertainty
When you say 'Puede que...' ('It's possible that...'), the next verb often needs to change into a special form for uncertainty (the subjunctive). For example, 'Puede que venga' ('He might come').
When used as a noun, el poder means 'power,' referring to authority, influence, or control.
poder(Noun)
power
?authority, influence, control
ability
?the capacity to do something
,power of attorney
?legal document
📝 In Action
El conocimiento es poder.
B1Knowledge is power.
El presidente tiene mucho poder.
B1The president has a lot of power.
Ella tiene el poder de cambiar las cosas.
B2She has the ability to change things.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Masculine
Even though it ends in '-er' like a verb, when 'poder' is a noun, it's always masculine. So, remember to use 'el poder' or 'un poder'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: poder
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'poder' to mean 'power' as a noun?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'poder' and 'saber'?
Great question! 'Poder' is about ability or permission ('can'). For example, 'No puedo levantar eso' (I can't lift that - I'm not strong enough). 'Saber' is about knowing how to do something, a learned skill. For example, 'No sé nadar' (I don't know how to swim).
Why does the stem of 'poder' change so much (puedo, pude, podré)?
Poder is one of Spanish's most common and oldest verbs, and these types of verbs often have irregular forms that have stuck around from Latin. The changes seem random at first, but you'll see them in other verbs too! The 'o' changing to 'ue' (like in 'puedo') is a common pattern, as is the completely different stem in the preterite ('pude') and future ('podré'). With practice, they'll become second nature.
Is it 'Yo puedo a...' or 'Yo puedo...'?
It's always 'Yo puedo...' followed directly by the action. You don't need to add an 'a' or any other small word in between. Just say 'Puedo correr' (I can run), not 'Puedo a correr'.