Poder

Question 1

Poder (2)

Answer 1

To be able (to do something), power
• i.e. can do something

*Shop owner is Der, he sells workout equipment.

He sets up his shop like an obstacle course. In the entrance is a giant pool of water that Joel and his friends must wade through in order to get into the shop.

Question 2

Puedo

Answer 2

I am able to/I can
• Lo puedo ver? –> I see him (Him I am able to see)

ALL OF THESE ARE USUALLY FOLLOWED BY AN INFINITIVE
______ is/am able to (do something; infinitive verb).

¿Cómo puedo llegar a…?
-How do I get to…?

Puedo ver la carta?
-Can I see the menu?

¿A qué hora puedo registrarme?
-What time may I check in?

¿Cómo puedo llegar a Madrid?
-How do I get to Madrid?

¿Cómo puedo ayudarle hoy?
-How may I help you today?

Yo no puedo ir contigo.
-I can’t go with you.

Yo haré el trabajo mañana si yo puedo.
-I will do the work tomorrow if I can.

*Joel says, “Oh good, it’s not too deep, I am able [puedo] to wade through it.”

Question 3

Puede

Answer 3

He, she, it is able to (can)

Esta maquina aún puede hablar.
-This machine can still talk.

ALL OF THESE ARE USUALLY FOLLOWED BY AN INFINITIVE
______ is/am able to (do something; infinitive verb).

Question 4

Puedes

Answer 4

You are able to (can)

Puede tener una hora por día como máximo.
-You can have one hour per day maximum.

ALL OF THESE ARE USUALLY FOLLOWED BY AN INFINITIVE
______ is/am able to (do something; infinitive verb).

Question 5

Pueden

Answer 5

They are able to

Cuando ellas hayan llegado a la escuela, pueden ir a la biblioteca.
-When they have got to the school, they can go to the library.

ALL OF THESE ARE USUALLY FOLLOWED BY AN INFINITIVE
______ is/am able to (do something; infinitive verb).

Question 6

Podemos

Answer 6

We are able

Nada podemos hacer sin mapa y brújula.
-We can’t do anything without a map and a compass.

ALL OF THESE ARE USUALLY FOLLOWED BY AN INFINITIVE
______ is/am able to (do something; infinitive verb).

Question 7

Pude

Answer 7

I was able (at a specific time)
• 1st person preterite

Di todo lo que pude.
-I gave all that I could.

No pude hacerlo.
-I was not able to do that.

Tampoco pude responder a eso.
-I could not answer that either.

Pude utilizarlo como amenaza.
-I was able to use it as a threat.

*In the merchandise area, the see an exercise that was supposed to be wrestling for Winnie the Pooh [pude].
• Joel says, “Back then, I was able to do it.”

Question 8

Pudo

Answer 8

He, she, it was able (at a specific time)
• 3rd person preterite

Ellos le hicieron una oferta que no pudo rechazar.
-They made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

El doctor Vélez iba a salir después de comer, pero no pudo.
-Dr. Vélez was going to leave after eating, but he couldn’t.

El doctor no pudo detener la hemorragia.
-The doctor couldn’t stop the bleeding.

Nos sorprende todavía a todos hoy cómo eso pudo ocurrir.
-We are still all astounded that it could have happened.

El Parlamento pudo votar sobre ello en comisión.
-Parliament was able to vote on this in committee.

*In the merchandise area, the see an exercise that was supposed to be wrestling for Winnie the Pooh [pude].
• Joel says, “Back then, I was able to do it.”

Question 9

Podía

Answer 9

I, he, she, or it was able
• 1st and 3rd person past imperfect

Podía ser que no tuviera tiempo.
-I might not have time.

Yo podía ver todas las piscinas de las casas.
-I could see all of the houses’ pools.

Question 10

Podías

Answer 10

You were able

• 2nd person past imperfect

Question 11

Podían

Answer 11

They were able

• 3rd person plural past imperfect

Question 12

Podíamos

Answer 12

We were able

• 1st person plural past imperfect

Question 13

Podré

Answer 13

I will be able
• 1st person future

Yo no podré comprar los boletos hasta mañana.
-I will not be able to buy the tickets until tomorrow.

Yo no podré comprar los boletos hasta que Juan me dé el dinero.
-I will not be able to buy the tickets until John gives me the money.

Question 14

Podrá

Answer 14

He, she, or it will be able

• 3rd person future

Question 15

Podría

Answer 15

I, he, she, or it would be able
• 1st and 3rd person conditional

¿Podría usted pedirle a la azafata una almohada?
-Would you ask the flight attendant for a pillow?

Discúlpeme, ¿podría usted decirme en dónde está el baño?
-Excuse me, could you tell me where the bathroom is?

¿Podría usted instalar el disco duro?
-Would you install the hard disk?

Question 16

Podrías

Answer 16

You would be able

Question 17

Podrían

Answer 17

They would be able

Question 18

Podríamos

Answer 18

We would be able

Question 19

Pueda

Answer 19

I, he, she, or it be able.
• 1st and 3rd person subjunctive

Espero que pueda quedarse a almorzar.
-I hope you’ll stay for lunch.

Trato de calmarme un poco y respirar lo más profundo que pueda.
-I try to calm down a little bit and breathe as deep as I can.

Se espera que el puente pueda ser usada por los turistas.
-It is hoped that the bridge can be used by the tourists.

Juan espera que Yolanda pueda ir a la fiesta con él.
-John is hoping that Yolanda can go to the party with him.

Tal vez pueda volver.
-I may come back.

*Outside (subjunctive), the have to wade through mud. Joel says, “I hope that I be able [pueda] to wade through the mud.”

Question 20

Puedas

Answer 20

You be able
• 2nd person subjunctive

*Outside (subjunctive), the have to wade through mud. Joel says, “I hope that I be able [pueda] to wade through the mud.”

Question 21

Puedan

Answer 21

They be able
• 3rd person plural subjunctive

Ojalá que no puedan privarnos de nuestra libertad de expresión.
-I hope they never take away our freedom of expression.

Pero, los detendré de correr a la mesa para que puedan lavar las manos.
-But, I will stop them from running to the table so that they can wash their hands.

Cuando puedan, irán a París.
-When they can, they will go to Paris.

*Outside (subjunctive), the have to wade through mud. Joel says, “I hope that I be able [pueda] to wade through the mud.”

Question 22

Podamos

Answer 22

We be able
• 1st person plural subjunctive

*Outside (subjunctive), the have to wade through mud. Joel says, “I hope that I be able [pueda] to wade through the mud.”

Question 23

Pudiera

Answer 23

I was/were able
• 1st person subjunctive imperfect past tense

Yo esperaba que ella pudiera ir a la fiesta conmigo el viernes.
-I was hoping that she could go to the party with me on Friday.

Yo no encontré a nadie que nos pudiera ayudar.
-I didn’t find anyone who could help us.

Yo esperaba que María pudiera ir a la fiesta la semana pasada.
-I was hoping that Mary could go to the party last week.

Juan estudiaría si él pudiera encontrar el libro.
-John would study if he could find the book.

*Looking at the mud, Joel says, “If I were able [pudiera] to stay here for a whole year, I would be able to make bricks and sell it.”

Question 24

Podido

Answer 24

(have) been able
• Participle

No nos dijo nada de lo que nos hubiera podido ser útil.
-He didn’t tell us anything that could have been useful.

Juan habría estudiado si él hubiera podido encontrar el libro.
-John would have studied if he had been able to find the book.

María, te habría ayudado si hubiera podido.
-Mary, I would have helped you if I had been able to.

María habría ido a la biblioteca con nosotros si ella hubiera podido.
-Mary would have gone to the library with us if she had been able to.

Yo habría venido a la clase temprano ayer si yo hubiera podido.  
-I would have come to the class early yesterday if I had been able.

*Poder stands on the roof and sees them off because he is proud of them. He says, “You have been able [podido] to do every deed in this place.”