poder
to be able to
To have the ability to do something
Encoding Strategies:
linguistic
power
power / ability
+
-er
verb suffix
Poder means to be able to and is related to the English word power0. If you have the power or ability0 to do something, you are able to do it.
poder
can, to be able to
Having the ability or capacity to do something.
- ¿Puedes ayudarme con esto? = Can you help me with this?
- No puedo dormir cuando hay mucho ruido = I can't sleep when there's a lot of noise
can, may, to be allowed to (permission)
When asking for or granting permission, the power to do something is either given or withheld.
- ¿Puedo sentarme aquí? = May I sit here?
- No puedes entrar sin identificación = You're not allowed in without ID
may, might, could (possibility)
When something is possible, there is power or potential for it to happen.
- Podría llover esta tarde = It might rain this afternoon
- Puede que tenga razón = He could be right
power, authority, control (noun)
As a noun, 'poder' is the power or authority someone holds. It's the same word, just treated as a thing rather than an action.
- Tiene mucho poder en la empresa = He has a lot of power in the company
- El poder del presidente es limitado = The president's power is limited
puede que
maybe, perhaps
Translates literally as "it can that," to say that there is power or possibility for something to happen. In English, this is more naturally phrased as "maybe" or "perhaps."
- Puede que no venga a la fiesta = Maybe he won't come to the party
- Puede que tengas razón = Perhaps you're right
no poder más
to be exhausted, to have had enough, to not be able to take it anymore
Translates literally as "to not be able to (do) more", as if you've run out of the power or ability to do it.
- Llegué a casa y no podía más = I got home and I was completely exhausted
- No puedo más con esta situación = I can't take this situation anymore
no poder con
to not be able to stand, to not be able to handle
To lack the power to deal with or tolerate something.
- No puedo con ese ruido tan fuerte = I can't stand that loud noise
- No puede con tanto trabajo = He can't handle that much work