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Conjugation Chart of “Poder” (to be able to) in the Present Tense

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Understanding the Present Tense of “Poder”

The Present Tense of Poder is used to express ability, permission, or possibility in the present moment. For example, Puedo hablar español. (I can speak Spanish.)

Poder is a stem-changing verb, meaning the vowel in the stem changes in certain conjugations. The o changes to ue in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.

How to Use Poder in the Present Tense

Poder generally means “to be able to” or “can”, but has several different meanings in the Present Tense, some of which might surprise you.

Ability: This is the most common meaning, indicating having the capacity or means to do something, for example, Puedo hablar español (I can speak Spanish).

Permission: It can also express having permission or authorization to do something, for example, ¿Puedo ir al baño? (Can I go to the bathroom?)

Possibility: Poder can indicate the possibility of something happening or being true, for example, Puede que llueva mañana (It may rain tomorrow).

Suggestion: It can be used to make suggestions or give advice, for example, Puedes estudiar más (You could study more).

Uncertainty: In some contexts, it can express uncertainty or doubt, for example, Puede ser verdad (It could be true).

Colloquial Usage: In informal speech, poder can be used to express surprise or disbelief, for example, ¡No puedes estar hablando en serio! (You can’t be serious!)

Rude Usage: In some cases, poder can be used in a rude or vulgar way to express defiance or challenge, for example, ¿Y tú qué puedes hacer al respecto? (And what can you do about it?)

Real Life Examples of Poder in the Present Tense

¿Puedo tomar un café antes de irnos? (Can I have a coffee before we leave?)

Puedes confiar en mí, te prometo que no le diré a nadie. (You can trust me, I promise I won’t tell anyone.)

Lamentablemente, no puedo asistir a la fiesta esta noche. (Unfortunately, I can’t attend the party tonight.)

En este restaurante, podemos pedir platos vegetarianos. (At this restaurant, we can order vegetarian dishes.)

¿Podéis ayudarme a mover este mueble pesado? (Can you all help me move this heavy piece of furniture?)

Mis amigos pueden venir a la playa con nosotros. (My friends can come to the beach with us.)

Con este nuevo trabajo, puedo ahorrar para comprar una casa. (With this new job, I can save up to buy a house.)

¿Puedes recomendarme un buen libro para leer en vacaciones? (Can you recommend a good book for me to read on vacation?)

Ella no puede asistir a la reunión porque está enferma. (She can’t attend the meeting because she’s sick.)

Podemos ir al cine esta noche si quieres. (We can go to the movies tonight if you want.)

¿Podéis guardar silencio por favor? Estoy intentando concentrarme. (Can you all please be quiet? I’m trying to concentrate.)

Mis padres pueden cuidar a los niños mientras estamos fuera. (My parents can watch the kids while we’re out.)

Con este nuevo software, puedo trabajar desde cualquier lugar. (With this new software, I can work from anywhere.)

¿Puedes pasarme la sal, por favor? (Can you pass me the salt, please?)

Ellos no pueden venir a la fiesta porque tienen que trabajar. (They can’t come to the party because they have to work.)

Conjugation Chart with English Translations

Conjugations of Poder (to be able to) in the Present Tense (Castilian Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Castilian Spanish. For Latin American Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Present tense is also known as the Simple Present, Present Simple, Present Tense, or Present Indicative in English, and as Presente de Indicativo, Presente Simple, Tiempo Presente, or Indicativo Presente in Spanish.