Poder: Full Conjugation

Poder means "to be able to" or "can." It's the main modal verb in Spanish for ability, permission, and possibility, and it's followed by an infinitive: puedo hablar ("I can speak"), ¿puedes ayudarme? ("can you help me?").

Poder is an o → ue stem-changing verb in the present. Its preterite takes the -ud- irregular stem pude, and its future/conditional use the shortened stem podr-. The meaning shifts interestingly between tenses: preterite pude often means "I managed to" while imperfect podía means "I was able to / I could."

Present Indicative

Preterite

Imperfect

Future

Conditional

Present Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive (-ra forms)

Imperative

Poder is a modal verb of ability and has essentially no practical imperative in Spanish. You can't sensibly command someone to "be able to" do something. Use puede or pueda only in rare set phrase contexts.

Non-Finite Forms

• Infinitive: poder
• Gerund: pudiendo
• Past participle: podido

Compound Tenses

The compound tenses use haber plus the past participle podido.

Present Perfect

Pluperfect

Future Perfect

Conditional Perfect

Present Perfect Subjunctive

Pluperfect Subjunctive

Progressive Forms

Progressive forms use estar with the gerund pudiendo. They're rare but exist for vivid descriptions of an unfolding ability or struggle.

Present Progressive

Past Progressive

Future Progressive

Common Collocations and Expressions

• poder con — to be able to handle / cope with
• no poder más — to not be able to take it anymore
• a más no poder — to the maximum, like crazy
• puede que + subjunctive — it may be that, perhaps
• puede ser — it could be, maybe
• ¿se puede? — may I (come in)?
• no poder ni con su alma — to be utterly exhausted
• querer es poder — where there's a will, there's a way
• ¿en qué puedo ayudarle? — how can I help you?
• pudiera ser — it could be (with a touch of doubt)
• no poder ver (a alguien) — to not be able to stand (someone)
• poder más que — to be stronger than (e.g. an emotion)
• hasta más no poder — to the limit
• podría ser peor — it could be worse

Common Errors (for English speakers)

• ❌ Puedo a hablar español. / ✅ Puedo hablar español. — Poder is followed by a bare infinitive, no preposition.
• ❌ No pode venir ayer. / ✅ No pudo venir ayer. — The preterite uses the irregular stem pud-, not pod-.
• ❌ Sé hablar español. (when you mean "I am able to speak Spanish") / ⚠️ Puedo hablar español. — Saber = "to know how to," poder = "to be physically/contextually able." See saber.
• ❌ Puedes me ayudar? / ✅ ¿Puedes ayudarme? / ¿Me puedes ayudar? — Object pronouns attach to the infinitive or precede the conjugated verb, not in between.
• ❌ Puede que llueve mañana. / ✅ Puede que llueva mañana. — Puede que triggers the subjunctive.
• ❌ Pueder es querer. / ✅ Querer es poder. — The proverb is "Querer es poder" (wanting is being able), not the other way around.

Related Verbs

• saber — "to know how to," contrast with poder for innate ability vs. circumstantial ability.
• querer — "to want," another modal verb followed by an infinitive.
• deber — "should, ought to" (moral or expected obligation).
• conseguir — "to manage to, succeed in" (often a stronger version of poder).
• lograr — "to achieve, manage to" — synonym of conseguir.

Cross-references

• Stem-changing verbs o → ue
• Conditional for polite requests
• U-stem preterites
• Saber: full conjugation
• Querer: full conjugation