21 Modal auxiliary verbs and expressions
21.1Poder
Poder is used to express:
(a) Possibility
^48 (p. 282);^67 (p. 375)
Puede venir mañana.
He/she may come tomorrow.
Pueden haber llegado. (see 48.1)
They may have arrived.
Podrías estudiar historia. (see 67.1) (advice)
You could (= it would be possible for you to) study history.
¿Qué puedo hacer? (see 67.3)
What can I (= is it possible for me to) do?
(b) Physical ability
^53 (p. 311);^67 (p. 375)
No podemos alcanzarlo.
We can’t reach it.
¿Podrá soportar tanto peso?
Will it be able to stand so much weight?
Pude traducirlo.
I was able to translate (= succeeded in translating) it.
Podía traducirlo.
I could translate it.
NOTE There is a considerable difference in meaning between the preterite and the imperfect. The
imperfect denotes general ability without any implication that the action was carried out;
the preterite implies that the action was in fact carried out.
17.3 (p. 74); 17.5 (p. 76); 53.1 (p. 311)
