podía
/po-DEE-ah/
could
Podía describes a general ability or capability held over a period in the past, like 'She could run for hours when she was young.'
podía(Verb)
could
?to describe a general ability or capability in the past
was/were able to
?talking about what someone knew how to do
📝 In Action
Cuando era joven, podía correr por horas.
A2When I was young, I could run for hours.
Mi abuela podía hablar tres idiomas.
A2My grandmother could speak three languages.
Antes no podía cocinar nada, pero ahora me encanta.
B1Before, I couldn't cook anything, but now I love it.
💡 Grammar Points
When to Use 'Podía' vs. 'Pudo'
'Podía' describes an ability you had over a period of time in the past ('I could play piano'). 'Pudo' is for a specific moment when you succeeded in doing something ('I was able to finish the race'). 'Podía' sets the scene; 'pudo' describes a completed action.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Podía' for a Single Event
Mistake: "Ayer, yo podía levantar la caja."
Correction: Ayer, pude levantar la caja. (Yesterday, I was able to lift the box). Because lifting the box was a single, completed action, you need the 'pude' form, not 'podía'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Setting the Scene in Stories
Use 'podía' to describe the background or ongoing situation in a story. For example: 'Era una noche oscura y no se podía ver nada.' (It was a dark night and you couldn't see anything.)
Podía can refer to a past possibility, often used with 'se' to mean 'it was possible' or 'you could,' such as 'From the window, you could see the whole park.'
podía(Verb)
could
?possibility or permission in the past
was/were allowed to
?describing past rules or permissions
,it was possible
?describing a past possibility
📝 In Action
En los años 90, se podía fumar en los restaurantes.
B1In the 90s, you could smoke in restaurants.
No sabía si podía entrar sin invitación.
B1I didn't know if I could (was allowed to) enter without an invitation.
Desde mi ventana se podía ver todo el parque.
A2From my window you could see the whole park.
💡 Grammar Points
General Rules with 'Se Podía'
To talk about what was generally allowed or possible for anyone, use the phrase 'se podía'. For example, 'Se podía comprar pan allí' means 'One could buy bread there' or 'You could buy bread there'.
In some contexts, podía is used as a very polite and soft way to make a request in the present moment, meaning 'Could you...?'
podía(Verb)
could you
?making a polite request in the present
would you be able to
?a very soft or gentle request
📝 In Action
Disculpe, ¿podía ayudarme con las maletas?
B1Excuse me, could you help me with the bags?
Quería un café, por favor. ¿Podía ser con leche de avena?
B2I'd like a coffee, please. Could it be with oat milk?
Perdona, ¿podías hablar un poco más alto?
B1Excuse me, could you speak a little louder?
💡 Grammar Points
A Different Way to Be Polite: 'Podía' vs. 'Podría'
You might learn 'podría' for polite requests ('Could you...?'). Using 'podía' does the same job. It can sound a bit softer and is very common in everyday speech, especially in Spain.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Thinking It's Only for the Past
Mistake: "Seeing '¿Podía ayudarme?' and thinking it means 'Could you help me (in the past)?'."
Correction: In a question like this, 'podía' is used for a present request. The context of asking for help now makes it clear it's not about the past.
⭐ Usage Tips
Sounding More Natural
Using 'podía' for requests can make you sound more like a native speaker in certain regions. It's a subtle touch that shows a deeper understanding of the language.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: podía
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'podía' to describe a general past ability?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between 'podía' and 'pudo'?
Think of it like this: 'podía' is for what you *could* do over a period of time (like a skill or ability you had), while 'pudo' is for something you *managed* to do at a specific moment. 'Podía nadar' = I could swim (in general). 'Pudo nadar' = He managed to swim across (a single successful action).
Can I always use 'podía' and 'podría' for polite requests interchangeably?
They are very similar for polite requests. 'Podría' is the standard conditional form taught in most textbooks. 'Podía' is also very common in speech, especially in Spain, and can sound a little more familiar or softer. You can't go wrong with 'podría', but using 'podía' shows a nice, native-like touch.
Is 'podía' only for 'I' and 'he/she'?
Yes, 'podía' is the form for 'yo' (I) and 'él/ella/usted' (he/she/you formal). For other people, the ending changes: 'podías' (tú - you informal), 'podíamos' (nosotros - we), 'podíais' (vosotros - you all informal), 'podían' (ellos/ustedes - they/you all formal).