podían
po-DEE-an
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Ellos podían entrar al edificio sin problemas.
A2They were able to enter the building without problems.
Antes, ustedes podían quedarse hasta tarde en la biblioteca.
B1Before, you (all) could stay until late at the library.
Cuando éramos niños, podíamos jugar todo el día en el parque.
A2When we were children, we could play all day in the park.
💡 Grammar Points
Ongoing Past Ability
The form 'podían' is used for ability that lasted for a long time in the past or for habitual actions. Think of it as 'they used to be able to'.
Imperfect vs. Preterite (Pudieron)
Use 'podían' (imperfect) to state that the ability existed. Use 'pudieron' (preterite) to say they successfully accomplished something at a specific moment, or, when used negatively, that they failed.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Tenses
Mistake: "Using 'pudieron' when describing a general state in the past: 'Cuando vivían allí, *pudieron* visitar la playa.'"
Correction: Use 'podían' for the general state: 'Cuando vivían allí, *podían* visitar la playa.' (They had the ability to visit the beach.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on Description
'Podían' is descriptive, painting the background scene of the past. If you are telling a story and setting the scene (e.g., 'It was cold, and they could barely see'), use 'podían'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: podían
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'podían' to describe a general, ongoing past ability?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does 'podían' refer to?
'Podían' refers to 'ellos' (they, masculine or mixed group), 'ellas' (they, feminine group), or 'ustedes' (you all, formal or informal in Latin America). Context tells you which group is meant.
Why does 'poder' change its stem (puedo, pude, podía)?
'Poder' is an irregular verb. While the Imperfect tense ('podía') is relatively regular, the Present ('puedo') and Preterite ('pude') have stem changes to maintain the original Latin sound or for historical reasons. You must memorize these changes!