Dive into our comprehensive guide to conjugating poder, designed to make mastering Spanish verbs easier than ever.
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Table of Contents
- Learn Faster with Audio
- Introduction to Poder
- Indicative tenses of Poder
- Poder in the Indicative Present
- Poder in the Indicative Preterite
- Poder in the Indicative Imperfect
- Poder in the Indicative Present Continuous
- Poder in the Indicative Near Future
- Poder in the Indicative Future
- Poder in the Indicative Conditional
- Poder in the Indicative Present Perfect
- Poder in the Indicative Past Perfect
- Poder in the Indicative Future Perfect
- Poder in the Indicative Conditional Perfect
- Subjunctive tenses of Poder
- Imperative tenses of Poder
The Power of Audio: Master Spanish Conjugations with Ease
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In this post, you’ll discover a unique approach that combines the power of visual and auditory learning. We provide complete conjugation charts for the verb, along with specially designed audio recordings that play the conjugations on a loop. This allows you to effortlessly absorb the patterns and rhythms of the language, embedding them directly into your memory.
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- Select Your Target: Choose the verb tense you want to master (e.g., present tense, preterite, imperfect).
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- Activate Your Eyes: Simultaneously, follow along with the conjugation chart. This dual-sensory approach enhances your brain’s ability to encode and retain the information.
- Listen for the Flow: Continue listening until the conjugations feel like a natural, familiar melody. You’ll instinctively know when it “clicks.”
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This method leverages your brain’s innate language learning capabilities, making memorization feel more like listening to a catchy song than a tedious study session.
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Introduction to Poder
“Poder” is a Spanish verb meaning “to be able to” or “can.” It’s used in a wide variety of contexts, from describing abilities to asking for permission.
| Infinitive | Past Participle | Gerund |
|---|---|---|
| poder | podido | pudiendo |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
Example Sentences:
- Past Participle
No he podido terminar el trabajo. I haven’t been able to finish the work. - Gerund
Estoy pudiendo entender mejor el español. I am being able to understand Spanish better.
Indicative tenses of Poder
The indicative mood in Spanish is all about reality. When you use an indicative tense, you’re stating a fact, making an observation, or describing an event you believe to be true. This mood has a wide range of tenses that allow you to express yourself across different time frames, from the past to the present and into the future.
Poder in the Indicative Present
The present indicative tense of poder (to be able to/can) is used to talk about actions happening now, habits, routines, and general truths.
For example: Puedo hablar español. (I can speak Spanish.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | puedo |
| Tú | puedes |
| Él / Ella / Usted | puede |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | podemos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | podéis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | pueden |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Present tense is also known as the Simple Present, Present Simple, Present Tense, or Present Indicative in English, and as Presente de Indicativo, Presente Simple, Tiempo Presente, or Indicativo Presente in Spanish.
Poder in the Indicative Preterite
The preterite tense of poder is used to talk about completed actions in the past. Think of it as the tense for actions that have a clear beginning and end.
For example: Pude terminar el trabajo a tiempo. (I was able to finish the work on time.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | pude |
| Tú | pudiste |
| Él / Ella / Usted | pudo |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | pudimos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | pudisteis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | pudieron |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Preterite tense is also known as the Simple Past, Preterite Simple, Preterite Tense, or Past Definite in English, and as Pretérito Indefinido, Pretérito Perfecto Simple, Pretérito Simple, or Tiempo Pasado in Spanish.
Poder in the Indicative Imperfect
The imperfect tense of poder takes us back to the past, but with a different perspective than the preterite. It describes actions that were ongoing or repeated in the past, with no specific end point.
For example, Podía correr muy rápido cuando era joven. (I could run very fast when I was young.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | podía |
| Tú | podías |
| Él / Ella / Usted | podía |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | podíamos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | podíais |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | podían |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Imperfect tense is also known as the Imperfect Tense, Past Imperfect, or Imperfective Past in English, and as Pretérito Imperfecto, Imperfecto de Indicativo, or Tiempo Imperfecto in Spanish.
Poder in the Indicative Present Continuous
The present continuous tense of poder describes an action that is in progress right now. It emphasizes the ongoing nature of the action.
For example: Estoy pudiendo dormir mejor con el nuevo colchón. (I am being able to sleep better with the new mattress.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | estoy pudiendo |
| Tú | estás pudiendo |
| Él / Ella / Usted | está pudiendo |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | estamos pudiendo |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | estáis pudiendo |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | están pudiendo |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Present Continuous tense is also known as the Present Progressive, Continuous Present, or Progressive Present in English, and as Presente Continuo, Presente Progresivo, or Progresivo de Indicativo in Spanish.
Poder in the Indicative Near Future
The near future tense of poder expresses actions that will happen in the very near future. It often emphasizes the speaker’s intention or certainty.
For example: Voy a poder asistir a la fiesta mañana. (I am going to be able to attend the party tomorrow.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | voy a poder |
| Tú | vas a poder |
| Él / Ella / Usted | va a poder |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | vamos a poder |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | vais a poder |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | van a poder |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Near Future tense is also known as the Immediate Future, Simple Future (colloquial use), or Informal Future in English, and as Futuro Próximo, Futuro Cercano, or Ir a + Infinitivo in Spanish.
Poder in the Indicative Future
The future tense of poder expresses actions that will occur in the future. It’s a more formal way to talk about future plans or predictions.
For example: Podré ayudarte la próxima semana. (I will be able to help you next week.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | podré |
| Tú | podrás |
| Él / Ella / Usted | podrá |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | podremos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | podréis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | podrán |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Future tense is also known as the Simple Future, Future Simple, or Future Tense in English, and as Futuro Simple, Futuro de Indicativo, or Tiempo Futuro in Spanish.
Poder in the Indicative Conditional
The conditional tense of poder is used to talk about hypothetical situations or actions that would happen under certain conditions. It often translates to “would be able to” in English.
For example: Podría ir al cine, pero tengo que estudiar. (I would be able to go to the movies, but I have to study.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | podría |
| Tú | podrías |
| Él / Ella / Usted | podría |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | podríamos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | podríais |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | podrían |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Conditional tense is also known as the Conditional Tense, Present Conditional, or Simple Conditional in English, and as Condicional Simple, Condicional de Indicativo, or Tiempo Condicional in Spanish.
Poder in the Indicative Present Perfect
The present perfect tense of poder is used to describe actions that started in the past and continue to the present, or have a result that is relevant to the present.
For example: He podido terminar el proyecto a tiempo. (I have been able to finish the project on time.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | he podido |
| Tú | has podido |
| Él / Ella / Usted | ha podido |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | hemos podido |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | habéis podido |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | han podido |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Present Perfect tense is also known as the Present Perfect, Perfect Present, or Compound Past in English, and as Pretérito Perfecto Compuesto, Perfecto de Indicativo, or Presente Perfecto in Spanish.
Poder in the Indicative Past Perfect
The past perfect tense of poder is used to describe an action that happened before another action in the past.
For example: Había podido estudiar antes de que llegaran mis amigos. (I had been able to study before my friends arrived.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | había podido |
| Tú | habías podido |
| Él / Ella / Usted | había podido |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | habíamos podido |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | habíais podido |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | habían podido |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Past Perfect tense is also known as the Pluperfect, Past Perfect, or Compound Past Perfect in English, and as Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto, Pluscuamperfecto de Indicativo, or Pasado Perfecto in Spanish.
Poder in the Indicative Future Perfect
The future perfect tense of poder describes an action that will be completed before a specific point in the future.
For example: Habré podido ahorrar suficiente dinero para el próximo año. (I will have been able to save enough money by next year.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | habré podido |
| Tú | habrás podido |
| Él / Ella / Usted | habrá podido |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | habremos podido |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | habréis podido |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | habrán podido |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Future Perfect tense is also known as the Future Perfect or Compound Future in English, and as Futuro Perfecto, Perfecto de Futuro, or Futuro Compuesto in Spanish.
Poder in the Indicative Conditional Perfect
The conditional perfect of poder is used to talk about hypothetical situations in the past, something that would have happened if a different condition had been met. It often translates to “would have been able to” in English.
For example: Habría podido ir a la fiesta, pero estaba enfermo. (I would have been able to go to the party, but I was sick.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | habría podido |
| Tú | habrías podido |
| Él / Ella / Usted | habría podido |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | habríamos podido |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | habríais podido |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | habrían podido |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Conditional Perfect tense is also known as the Perfect Conditional or Compound Conditional in English, and as Condicional Perfecto, Perfecto de Condicional, or Condicional Compuesto in Spanish.
Subjunctive tenses of Poder
The subjunctive mood in Spanish might seem a bit mysterious at first, but it’s all about expressing subjectivity. Instead of stating cold, hard facts, you use the subjunctive to talk about desires, doubts, emotions, and possibilities. Think of it as the mood of uncertainty, where things are wished for, doubted, or influenced by opinions and feelings.
Poder in the Present Subjunctive
The present subjunctive of poder is used to express wishes, doubts, emotions, and possibilities in the present or future. It often follows verbs or phrases that indicate subjectivity or uncertainty.
For example: Espero que puedas venir mañana. (I hope you can come tomorrow.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | pueda |
| Tú | puedas |
| Él / Ella / Usted | pueda |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | podamos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | podáis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | puedan |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Subjunctive Present tense is also known as the Present Subjunctive or Simple Present Subjunctive in English, and as Presente de Subjuntivo or Subjuntivo Presente in Spanish.
Poder in the Imperfect Subjunctive
The imperfect subjunctive of poder is used to express wishes, doubts, emotions, and possibilities in the past, or in hypothetical situations. It often follows verbs or phrases that indicate subjectivity or uncertainty in the past tense.
For example: Dudaba que pudiera ayudarme. (I doubted that he/she would be able to help me.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | pudiera |
| Tú | pudieras |
| Él / Ella / Usted | pudiera |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | pudiéramos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | pudierais |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | pudieran |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Subjunctive Imperfect tense is also known as the Imperfect Subjunctive or Past Subjunctive in English, and as Pretérito Imperfecto de Subjuntivo, Imperfecto de Subjuntivo, or Subjuntivo Pasado in Spanish.
Poder in the Future Subjunctive
The future subjunctive is rarely used in modern Spanish, but it’s good to be aware of it! It expresses a hypothetical action in the future with a high degree of uncertainty.
For example: Si pudiere asistir, te lo haré saber. (If I should be able to attend, I will let you know.)
You’ll likely encounter this tense more in literature or legal texts than in everyday conversation.
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | pudiere |
| Tú | pudieres |
| Él / Ella / Usted | pudiere |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | pudiéremos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | pudiereis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | pudieren |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Subjunctive Future tense is also known as the Future Subjunctive or Simple Future Subjunctive in English, and as Futuro de Subjuntivo or Subjuntivo Futuro in Spanish.
Poder in the Present Perfect Subjunctive
The present perfect subjunctive of poder is used to express actions that are completed in relation to the present or future, but with some element of subjectivity or uncertainty.
For example: Me alegra que hayas podido venir. (I’m glad that you have been able to come.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | haya podido |
| Tú | hayas podido |
| Él / Ella / Usted | haya podido |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | hayamos podido |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | hayáis podido |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | hayan podido |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Subjunctive Present Perfect tense is also known as the Perfect Subjunctive or Present Perfect Subjunctive in English, and as Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo or Perfecto de Subjuntivo in Spanish.
Poder in the Past Perfect Subjunctive
The past perfect subjunctive of poder is used to express actions that were completed before another action in the past, but with some element of subjectivity or uncertainty.
For example: Dudaba que hubiera podido terminar a tiempo. (I doubted that he/she had been able to finish on time.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | hubiera podido |
| Tú | hubieras podido |
| Él / Ella / Usted | hubiera podido |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | hubiéramos podido |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | hubierais podido |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | hubieran podido |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Subjunctive Past Perfect tense is also known as the Pluperfect Subjunctive, Past Perfect Subjunctive, or Compound Past Subjunctive in English, and as Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo or Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo in Spanish.
Poder in the Future Perfect Subjunctive
Like the future subjunctive, the future perfect subjunctive is very rare in modern Spanish. It expresses a hypothetical action that will have been completed before a certain point in the future.
For example: Cuando hubiere podido resolver el problema, te avisaré. (When I have been able to solve the problem, I will let you know.)
It’s more likely to be found in legal documents or older literature than in everyday speech. Most speakers would use other tenses to express this idea.
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | hubiere podido |
| Tú | hubieres podido |
| Él / Ella / Usted | hubiere podido |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | hubiéremos podido |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | hubiereis podido |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | hubieren podido |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Subjunctive Future Perfect tense is also known as the Future Perfect Subjunctive or Compound Future Subjunctive in English, and as Futuro Perfecto de Subjuntivo or Perfecto de Futuro de Subjuntivo in Spanish.
Imperative tenses of Poder
While Spanish has an imperative mood for commands, requests, and instructions, it’s important to note that the verb poder (to be able to) is rarely used in the imperative form. This is because logically, you cannot command someone to “be able” to do something – ability is not something that can be controlled by command. When expressing permission or ability in Spanish, other constructions are typically used instead.
Poder in the Imperative Affirmative
Although not commonly used in everyday speech, the affirmative imperative forms of poder exist in Spanish grammar. These forms are primarily found in formal or literary contexts, though speakers generally prefer alternative expressions for giving permission.
For example: ¡Puede pasar! (You may come in!)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | — |
| Tú | puede |
| Él / Ella / Usted | pueda |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | podamos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | poded |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | puedan |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Imperative Affirmative tense is also known as the Positive Imperative or Affirmative Command in English, and as Imperativo Afirmativo or Mandato Afirmativo in Spanish.
Poder in the Imperative Negative
Like the affirmative imperative, the negative imperative of poder is grammatically possible but rarely used in practice. Native speakers typically express prohibition or lack of permission using other constructions.
For example: ¡No puedas salir sin permiso! (Don’t be able to leave without permission!)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | — |
| Tú | no puedas |
| Él / Ella / Usted | no pueda |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | no podamos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | no podáis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | no puedan |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Imperative Negative tense is also known as the Negative Imperative or Negative Command in English, and as Imperativo Negativo or Mandato Negativo in Spanish.