You can’t keep going without learning the “poder” conjugation in Spanish!

The verb “poder” is a highly useful and versatile verb in the Spanish language. It is an irregular verb that means “to be able to” or “can” in English.

You can use “poder” in Spanish for the following instances:

• Expressing ability or capability
• Making requests or asking for permission
• Indicating possibility or potential
• Expressing doubt or uncertainty

Read more: THE 150 MOST COMMON SPANISH VERBS (IRREGULAR + REGULAR)

“Poder” Conjugation Indicative / Indicativo

The indicative tense (el modo indicativo) is one of the three grammatical moods used to express different attitudes or purposes in speech. The indicative mood is used to make factual statements, ask questions, and express opinions about actions or events that are considered real or certain.

Present Tense Poder Conjugation / Presente

The present tense is used to describe actions happening in the present or to express general truths or habitual actions.

Yo	Puedo
Tú	Puedes
Él/Ella/Usted	Puede
Nosotros	Podemos
Vosotros	Podéis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Pueden

Examples:

1. Puedo ayudarte con tus deberes de matemáticas. (I can help you with your math homework.)
2. Podemos reunirnos mañana para discutir el proyecto. (We can meet tomorrow to discuss the project.)
3. Ellos pueden hablar varios idiomas con fluidez. (They can speak several languages fluently.)

Simple Past Poder Conjugation / Pasado 

The simple past tense (preterite) is used to describe completed actions in the past, often with specific time frames or events.

Yo	Pude
Tú	Pudiste
Él/Ella/Usted	Pudo
Nosotros	Pudimos
Vosotros	Pudisteis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Pudieron

Examples:

1. Ayer pudiste resolver ese difícil problema de matemáticas. (Yesterday you were able to solve that difficult math problem.)
2. Él pudo llegar a tiempo para la reunión a pesar del tráfico. (He was able to make it to the meeting on time despite the traffic.)

Imperfect Poder Conjugation / Imperfecto

Spanish imperfect tense is used to describe ongoing, repeated, or habitual actions in the past, as well as to set the stage or provide background information

Yo	Podía
Tú	Podías
Él/Ella/Usted	Podía
Nosotros	Podíamos
Vosotros	Podíais
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Podían

Examples:

1. Cuando eras niño, podías jugar todo el día sin cansarte. (When you were a kid, you could play all day without getting tired.)
2. Vosotros podíais elegir entre varias opciones de menú en el restaurante. (You could choose between several menu options in the restaurant.)
3. Ellos podían escuchar música mientras trabajaban. (They could listen to music while they worked.)

Present Continuous Poder Conjugation / Presente Continuo

The present continuous tense (also known as “estar + gerundio”) is used to describe actions that are currently happening in the present moment or to express temporary situations.

Yo	Estoy pudiendo
Tú	Estás pudiendo
Él/Ella/Usted	Está pudiendo
Nosotros	Estamos pudiendo
Vosotros	Estáis pudiendo
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Están pudiendo

Examples:

1. Estoy pudiendo entender mejor el idioma después de tomar clases de español. (I am able to understand the language better after taking Spanish classes.)
2. Usted está pudiendo superar los desafíos con determinación y esfuerzo. (You are being able to overcome the challenges with determination and effort.)

Future Tense / Futuro

The Spanish future tense is used to express actions or events that will happen in the future, indicating something that has not yet occurred.

Yo	Podré
Tú	Podrás
Él/Ella/Usted	Podrá
Nosotros	Podremos
Vosotros	Podréis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Podrán

Examples:

1. Si estudias con dedicación, podrás alcanzar tus metas académicas. (If you study hard, you will be able to achieve your academic goals.)
2. Con trabajo en equipo, podremos completar este proyecto a tiempo. (With teamwork, we will be able to complete this project on time.)

Conditional Poder Conjugation / Condicional

The conditional tense is used to express hypothetical or speculative actions or events that would happen under certain conditions in the present or future.

Yo	Podría
Tú	Podrías
Él/Ella/Usted	Podría
Nosotros	Podríamos
Vosotros	Podríais
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Podrían

Examples:

1. Ella podría ser una excelente candidata para el puesto de trabajo. (She could be an excellent candidate for the job.)
2. Si ahorran dinero, podrían irse de vacaciones el próximo verano. (If they save money, they could go on vacation next summer.)

Present Perfect / Pretérito Perfecto Compuesto

Spanish present perfect tense (also known as “pretérito perfecto compuesto”) is used to express actions that have occurred in the past but have a connection to the present, emphasizing the result or consequences of those actions.

Yo	He podido
Tú	Has podido
Él/Ella/Usted	Ha podido
Nosotros	Hemos podido
Vosotros	Habéis podido
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Han podido

Examples:

1. Gracias a tu apoyo, he podido superar todos los obstáculos que se me presentaron. (Thanks to your support, I have been able to overcome all the obstacles that came my way.)
2. Con trabajo en equipo, hemos podido completar el proyecto antes de la fecha límite. (With teamwork, we have been able to complete the project before the deadline.)
3. Han podido resolver el problema de manera eficiente y satisfactoria. (They have been able to solve the problem efficiently and satisfactorily.)

Past Perfect Poder Conjugation / Pretérico Pluscuamperfecto

Spanish past perfect tense (also known as “pretérito pluscuamperfecto”) is used to describe actions that occurred before another past action or event, expressing a past-in-the-past relationship.

Yo	Había podido
Tú	Has podido
Él/Ella/Usted	Ha podido
Nosotros	Hemos podido
Vosotros	habéis podido
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Han podido

Examples:

1. A pesar de las dificultades, has podido cumplir con todas tus responsabilidades. (Despite the difficulties, you have been able to fulfill all your responsibilities.)
2. Antes de la reunión, ya había podido revisar todos los informes necesarios. (Before the meeting, he had already been able to review all the necessary reports.)

Future Perfect / Futuro Perfecto

The Spanish future perfect tense is used to express actions that will have been completed in the future, indicating an action that will be finished before another specified future time or event.

Yo	Habré podido
Tú	Habrás podido
Él/Ella/Usted	Habrá podido
Nosotros	Habremos podido
Vosotros	Habréis podido
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Habrán podido

Examples:

1. Después de tanto esfuerzo, usted habrá podido alcanzar sus metas profesionales. (After so much effort, you will have been able to achieve your professional goals.)
2. Si seguís practicando, habréis podido mejorar vuestras habilidades en el deporte. (If you keep practicing, you will have been able to improve your skills in the sport.)

Conditional Perfect / Condicional Perfect

The conditional perfect tense is used to express hypothetical or speculative actions that would have been completed in the past, indicating an action that would have happened prior to another past event.

Yo	Habría podido
Tú	Habrías podido
Él/Ella/Usted	Habría podido
Nosotros	Habríamos podido
Vosotros	Habríais podido
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Habrían podido

Examples:

1. Si hubiéramos tenido más tiempo, habríamos podido terminar el proyecto con mayor calidad. (If we had had more time, we would have been able to finish the project with a higher quality.)
2. Si hubieran aceptado nuestra oferta, habrían podido disfrutar de los beneficios de nuestra colaboración. (If they had accepted our offer, they would have been able to enjoy the benefits of our collaboration.)

“Poder” Conjugation Subjunctive / Subjuntivo

The subjunctive tense (el modo subjuntivo) is one of the three grammatical moods used to express different attitudes or purposes in speech. The subjunctive mood is used to express doubt, uncertainty, subjectivity, emotion, and hypothetical situations.

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Present Tense / Presente

The Spanish subjunctive present tense is used to express subjective actions, desires, doubts, recommendations, or possibilities, often introduced by certain triggers such as expressions of doubt, necessity, or influence.

Yo	Pueda
Tú	Puedas
Él/Ella/Usted	Pueda
Nosotros	Podamos
Vosotros	Podáis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Puedan

Examples:

1. Espero que puedas comprender la importancia de esta decisión. (I hope you can understand the importance of this decision.)
2. Trabajemos juntos para que podamos lograr el éxito en este proyecto. (Let’s work together so that we can achieve success in this project.)

Imperfect / Imperfecto

This tense is used to express hypothetical or unreal actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the past, often introduced by certain triggers such as expressions of doubt, uncertainty, or unreal conditions.

Yo	Pudiera
Tú	Pudieras
Él/Ella/Usted	Pudiera
Nosotros	Pudiéramos
Vosotros	Pudierais
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Pudieran

Examples:

1. Si yo pudiera ayudarte de alguna manera, lo haría con gusto. (If I could help you in any way, I would gladly do so.)
2. Si pudieras prestarme tu libro, te lo agradecería mucho. (If you could lend me your book, I would greatly appreciate it.)

Future Tense / Futuro

The Spanish subjunctive future tense is used to express hypothetical or uncertain actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the future.

Yo	Pudiere
Tú	Pudieres
Él/Ella/Usted	Pudiere
Nosotros	Pudiéremos
Vosotros	Pudiereis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Pudieren

Examples:

1. Ella pudiere tomar una decisión más tarde, cuando tenga toda la información necesaria. (She can make a decision later, when she has all the necessary information.)
2. Si pudiereis venir a la reunión, sería de gran ayuda para discutir los detalles del proyecto. (If you could come to the meeting, it would be very helpful to discuss the details of the project.)

Present Perfect / Pretérito Perfecto

Spanish subjunctive present perfect tense is used to express hypothetical or unreal actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the present with a connection to the past, indicating actions that would have been completed prior to the present moment.

Yo	Haya podido
Tú	Hayas podido
Él/Ella/Usted	Haya podido
Nosotros	Hayamos podido
Vosotros	Hayáis podido
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Hayan podido

Examples:

1. Espero que ella haya podido resolver el problema a tiempo. (I hope she was able to solve the problem in time.)
2. Me alegra que hayan podido encontrar una solución satisfactoria. (I’m glad you were able to find a satisfactory solution.)

Past Perfect / Pretérico Pluscuamperfecto

Spanish subjunctive past perfect tense is used to express hypothetical or unreal actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the past with a connection to a previous past event, indicating actions that would have been completed before that past event.

Yo	Hubiera podido
Tú	Hubieras podido
Él/Ella/Usted	Hubiera podido
Nosotros	Hubiéramos podido
Vosotros	Hubierais podido
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Hubieran podido

Examples:

1. Si hubiéramos tenido más recursos, hubiéramos podido realizar el proyecto a mayor escala. (If we had more resources, we would have been able to carry out the project on a larger scale.)
2. Si hubieran seguido nuestras recomendaciones, hubieran podido evitar esa situación complicada. (If they had followed our recommendations, they would have been able to avoid that complicated situation.)

Future Perfect / Futuro Perfecto

The future perfect tense is used to express hypothetical or unreal actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the future with a connection to a future event, indicating actions that would have been completed before that future event.

Yo	Hubiere podido
Tú	Hubieres podido
Él/Ella/Usted	Hubiere podido
Nosotros	Hubiéremos podido
Vosotros	Hubiereis podido
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Hubieren podido

Examples:

1. Si yo hubiere podido asistir al evento, habría disfrutado de la experiencia. (If I had been able to attend the event, I would have enjoyed the experience.)
2. Hubieres podido evitar ese error si hubieras prestado más atención. (You could have avoided that mistake if you had paid more attention.)

“Poder” Conjugation Imperative / Imperativo

The imperative tense (el modo imperativo) is one of the verb moods used to express commands, orders, or requests. It is used to tell someone what to do or what not to do.

Affirmative / Afirmativos

Spanish affirmative refers to the use of positive statements or expressions that indicate agreement, confirmation, or positive response to a question or statement.

Yo	–
Tú	Puedes
Él/Ella/Usted	Puede
Nosotros	Podemos
Vosotros	Poded
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Pueden

Examples:

1. Puedes venir a mi casa a las 6 de la tarde. (You can come to my house at 6 pm.)
2. Pueden comenzar la reunión sin mí si llego tarde. (They can start the meeting without me if I’m late.)

Negative / Negativos

Spanish negative refers to the use of negative statements or expressions that indicate negation, denial, or disagreement with a question or statement.

Yo	–
Tú	No puedes
Él/Ella/Usted	No puede
Nosotros	No podemos
Vosotros	No podáis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	No pueden

Examples:

1. No puede entrar sin permiso. (You cannot enter without permission.)
2. No podemos permitir que eso suceda. (We cannot allow that to happen.)

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