Poder Flashcards
Poder (2)
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.
Puedo
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.”
Puede
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).
Puedes
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).
Pueden
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).
Podemos
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).
Pude
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.”
Pudo
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.”
Podía
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.
Podías
You were able
• 2nd person past imperfect
Podían
They were able
• 3rd person plural past imperfect
Podíamos
We were able
• 1st person plural past imperfect
Podré
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.
Podrá
He, she, or it will be able
• 3rd person future
Podría
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?
Podrías
You would be able
Podrían
They would be able
Podríamos
We would be able
Pueda
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.”
Puedas
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.”
Puedan
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.”
Podamos
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.”
Pudiera
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.”
Podido
(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.”
