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BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE VERB

poder

can, to be able to

  • #6 most used
  • Irregular -er verb
  • Gerund: podendo
  • Past participle: podido

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present

Presente · now, habits and facts

  1. eu I can
  2. você, ele, ela, a gente you can
  3. nós we can
  4. vocês, eles, elas you all can

Past

Pretérito Perfeito · finished actions

  1. eu I could
  2. você, ele, ela, a gente you could
  3. nós we could
  4. vocês, eles, elas you all could

Future

Futuro com ir · plans: “going to”

  1. eu I can
  2. você, ele, ela, a gente you can
  3. nós we can
  4. vocês, eles, elas you all can

Imperfect

Pretérito Imperfeito · “used to” and “was …ing”

  1. eu I could
  2. você, ele, ela, a gente you could
  3. nós we could
  4. vocês, eles, elas you all could

Conditional

Futuro do Pretérito · “would”

  1. eu I can
  2. você, ele, ela, a gente you can
  3. nós we can
  4. vocês, eles, elas you all can

Present subjunctive

Presente do Subjuntivo · wishes, doubts, “que …”

  1. eu (that) I can
  2. você, ele, ela, a gente (that) you can
  3. nós (that) we can
  4. vocês, eles, elas (that) you all can

Past subjunctive

Imperfeito do Subjuntivo · “if I were”, “se …”

  1. eu I could
  2. você, ele, ela, a gente you could
  3. nós we could
  4. vocês, eles, elas you all could

Future subjunctive

Futuro do Subjuntivo · “when” and “if” about the future

  1. eu (when) I can
  2. você, ele, ela, a gente (when) you can
  3. nós (when) we can
  4. vocês, eles, elas (when) you all can

Imperative

Imperativo · requests and orders

  1. você
  2. vocês

How to use poder

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present

    Você pode me ajudar com as malas?

    Can you help me with the bags?

  2. Past

    Ontem eu não pude ir à aula.

    Yesterday I couldn't go to class.

  3. Future

    Amanhã a gente vai poder descansar um pouco.

    Tomorrow we're going to be able to rest a bit.

  4. Imperfect

    Antes eu podia comer de tudo.

    I used to be able to eat anything.

  5. Conditional

    Você poderia falar mais devagar, por favor?

    Could you speak more slowly, please?

  6. Present subjunctive

    Espero que você possa vir no sábado.

    I hope you can come on Saturday.

  7. Past subjunctive

    Se eu pudesse, viajaria o ano inteiro.

    If I could, I'd travel all year.

  8. Future subjunctive

    Se puder, me manda uma mensagem depois.

    If you can, send me a message later.

  9. Imperative

    Possam vocês ser muito felizes juntos!

    May you be very happy together!

Good to know

  • "Pode ser" means "maybe" or "could be"; "não pode" is "you can't" or "it's not allowed".
  • "Posso?" alone asks for permission, like "may I?".

Where you hear poder

The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.

Brazilian Portuguese · Beginner Level 1

  • Eu posso ajudar. I can help.
  • Eu não pude ir. I couldn't go.
  • Você vai poder voltar. You'll be able to come back.

Brazilian Portuguese · Beginner Level 2

  • Eles podem te visitar. They can visit you.
  • Eu não pude ir à festa. I couldn't go to the party.
  • Você vai poder ficar. You'll be able to stay.
20
What Are You Doing on Saturday?

Beginner Level 1 · você pode · Você pode? · posso · não posso

Needs a subscription 29
The Offer

Beginner Level 2 · eles podem

Needs a subscription 3
They're Coming!

Beginner Level 3 · eles podem

Needs a subscription 6
You Should See the Sunset

Beginner Level 3 · você poderia · vocês poderiam

Needs a subscription 25
A Flat for Two

Beginner Level 3 · nós podemos

Needs a subscription 28
Next Year

Beginner Level 3 · puder

Needs a subscription 7
I'm Sorry You're Upset

Intermediate Level 1 · possa

Needs a subscription 12
When We Get There

Intermediate Level 1 · se você puder

Needs a subscription 22
I Wish She Would Stay

Intermediate Level 1 · pudesse

Needs a subscription 23
It Will Be Sent by Post

Intermediate Level 1 · poder · poderá

Needs a subscription 9
I Would Have Put More Cheese

Intermediate Level 2 · podia

Needs a subscription 14
Unless You Pay in Cash

Intermediate Level 3 · a gente possa

Needs a subscription

And 1 more lessons.

Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: irregular -er verb.