Questions & Answers about Podemos ver la película más tarde.
What exactly does the word bolded as podemos mean here?
It’s the present tense, first-person plural of poder (to be able to/can). So podemos means “we can” or “we are able to.” In context, it can express ability, permission, or a gentle suggestion, depending on tone and context.
Quick reference (Spain included):
Why is ver in the infinitive and not conjugated?
Spanish uses a bare infinitive after modal-like verbs such as poder. The structure is “conjugated modal + infinitive”: podemos ver = “we can watch/see.” Conjugating both verbs (e.g., “podemos vemos”) would be incorrect.
Could I just say Vemos la película más tarde?
You can, but it changes the nuance. Podemos ver… suggests possibility/permission or a soft proposal. (La) vemos más tarde sounds more like a decision/plan (“We’ll watch it later”) or a casual proposal among friends. In conversation, La vemos luego is common as a plan/agreement. Use podemos if you want to emphasize “can/may” rather than a settled plan.
Is Podemos ver… a suggestion like “Let’s watch…”? How do I make it softer/politer?