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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 conveys the idea that something is possible or likely to happen. For example, Puede llover esta tarde (It could rain this afternoon).

Uncertainty: It can also express uncertainty or doubt about something. For example, Puede ser que esté equivocado (It’s possible that I’m wrong).

Suggestion: In some contexts, poder can suggest or recommend something. For example, Puedes intentar otra vez (You could try again).

Colloquial Usage: In informal speech, poder can be used to express surprise, disbelief, or emphasis. For example, ¡Puedes creerlo! (Can you believe it!)

Real Life Examples of Poder in the Present Tense

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

Ella puede hablar tres idiomas con fluidez. (She can speak three languages fluently.)

Mis amigos y yo podemos reunirnos en el parque esta tarde. (My friends and I can meet up at the park this afternoon.)

Ustedes pueden elegir la película que quieran ver. (You all can choose whichever movie you want to watch.)

Él puede ayudarte con esa tarea si lo necesitas. (He can help you with that task if you need it.)

¿Puedes recomendarme un buen restaurante por aquí? (Can you recommend a good restaurant around here?)

Nosotros podemos intentar resolver este problema juntos. (We can try to solve this problem together.)

Ellos pueden unirse a nosotros más tarde, si quieren. (They can join us later, if they want.)

Tú puedes confiar en mí, soy de palabra. (You can trust me, I’m a man of my word.)

¿Puedo tomar un descanso rápido? Estoy un poco cansado. (Can I take a quick break? I’m a bit tired.)

Ella puede ser un poco tímida al principio, pero es muy amable. (She can be a bit shy at first, but she’s very kind.)

Nosotros podemos hacer planes para el fin de semana, si quieres. (We can make plans for the weekend, if you want.)

Ustedes pueden sentarse aquí mientras esperan su turno. (You all can sit here while you wait your turn.)

Él puede ser un poco terco a veces, pero tiene buen corazón. (He can be a bit stubborn sometimes, but he has a good heart.)

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

Conjugation Chart with English Translations

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

This post covers Latin American Spanish. For Castilian 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.