Expressing Ability and Permission
To talk about what you are able to do, or to ask for permission, use the verb poder (can / to be able to) followed by an infinitive.
Just like querer, poder is a stem-changing verb. The o in the stem changes to ue in most forms, except for nosotros/nosotras:
| Pronoun | Poder (can / to be able to) |
|---|---|
| yo | puedo |
| tú | puedes |
| él / ella / usted | puede |
| nosotros / nosotras | podemos |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | pueden |
Remember the rule for using two verbs together: conjugate the first verb to match the speaker (poder), and leave the second action verb in its dictionary form:
| I cannot go to the party. | No puedo ir a la fiesta. |
| We can wait here with her. | Podemos esperar aquí con ella. |
| May I come into the room? | ¿Puedo pasar al cuarto? |
Making Polite Requests
You can also use poder as a friendly, natural way to ask someone for a favor. Simply frame it as a question and add por favor (please).
Use the tú form (puedes) for friends and people you know well:
| Can you come tomorrow, please? | ¿Puedes venir mañana, por favor? |
Use the usted form (puede) for polite, formal situations:
| Can you sign the document, please? | ¿Puede firmar el documento, por favor? |
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