Verb PODER (can/to be able)

In Portuguese, poder usually acts as an auxiliary verb. This means it rarely stands alone. It likes to have a partner. That partner is always another verb in its original form, called the infinitive. For example, if you want to say "I can go," you use posso (can) plus ir (to go). You only conjugate poder. The second verb stays exactly as it is. This makes your life much easier! You do not need to worry about double conjugations. It is like a grammar "buy one, get one free" deal. Just learn the forms of poder and you can pair it with hundreds of other actions. It is the ultimate shortcut to building complex sentences early on.

1. 1To use poder, you need to master its present tense forms. It is mostly regular, but the first person is a bit of a rebel. Follow these steps to build your sentences:
2. 2Start with the subject (Eu, Você, etc.).
3. 3Conjugate poder based on that subject.
4. 4Add the main verb in the infinitive (ending in -ar, -er, or -ir).
5. 5Add the rest of your sentence.
6. 6Here are the present tense forms you need to memorize:
7. 7Eu posso (I can) - Notice the double 's'! This is the only tricky one.
8. 8Você/Ele/Ela pode (You/He/She can)
9. 9Nós podemos (We can)
10. 10Vocês/Eles/Elas podem (You all/They can)
11. 11Think of the change from o to o sounds. In posso, the sound is closed. In pode, it is open. It is like a little vocal dance you have to learn. Don't worry, even native speakers had to learn this once!

There are three main scenarios where poder shines. First, use it for permission. If you are at a friend's house and want to use the bathroom, you ask: Posso usar o banheiro?. It is polite and direct. Second, use it for possibility. If you are looking at dark clouds, you might say: Pode chover hoje (It might rain today). It expresses that something is likely but not certain. Third, use it for physical ability or circumstances. If you are carrying heavy bags, you might say: Não posso abrir a porta. You have the skill to open doors, but your hands are full! It is perfect for navigating restaurants too. Você pode me trazer a conta? (Can you bring me the bill?) is a phrase you will use constantly. It makes you sound natural and capable in any social setting.

This is where many learners trip up. Do not use poder for learned skills. In English, we say "I can speak Portuguese." In Portuguese, we use the verb saber (to know how) for this. If you say Eu posso falar português, it sounds like you are asking for permission to speak it, or that your throat finally healed! Use saber for languages, instruments, and sports. Also, avoid using poder when you mean "to manage to do something" in a difficult situation. In those cases, the verb conseguir is a better fit. Think of poder as the "potential" or "permission" verb, not the "skill" verb. It is like a grammar traffic light; it tells you if the path is clear, not if you know how to drive the car.

One of the biggest blunders is forgetting the second verb's infinitive. People sometimes try to conjugate both verbs. Never say Eu posso vou. That is like saying "I can I go." Always keep the second verb in its base form: Eu posso ir. Another classic mistake is using pode for everything. Remember that Eu always takes posso. If you say Eu pode, people will understand you, but it sounds a bit like a caveman speaking. Also, watch out for the spelling of posso. It is two 's' characters, not a 'c' or a single 's'. It is a small detail, but it makes you look like a pro. Finally, don't use poder with the preposition de. It is just posso fazer, not posso de fazer. Keep it clean and simple!

Let's look at Poder vs. Conseguir. This is the ultimate showdown. Poder is about having the permission or the general possibility. Conseguir is about the result and the effort. If you say Não posso ir, it might mean you aren't allowed or have a meeting. If you say Não consigo ir, it implies there is a physical barrier or you can't make it happen despite trying. Then there is Poder vs. Saber. As mentioned, Saber is for things you learned. You sabe how to play guitar, but you pode play it now because the neighbors are awake. One is in your head (Saber), the other is about the environment (Poder). Understanding this distinction will make your Portuguese sound much more sophisticated and less like a translation from English.