español · B1 · verb · 4 minutes
Poder in the conditional
Express possibility and soften suggestions with the stem podr-.
Understand the choice
Poder uses podr- plus the regular conditional endings to express what could happen, what someone would be able to do, or a tactful request or suggestion.
Core rule: Poder uses the conditional stem podr-; the forms express possibility or a softened suggestion.
Notice it in context
Podría ayudarte y podríamos terminar hoy.
I could help you and we could finish today.
Poder uses the conditional stem podr-; the forms express possibility or a softened suggestion.
¿Podrías cerrar la ventana?
Could you close the window?
Podrías makes a tactful request.
Sin ayuda, no podrían terminar.
Without help, they could not finish.
Podrían expresses conditional possibility.
What to remember
- Podría serves yo, él, ella, and usted; the subject comes from context.
- The conditional and future share the irregular stem podr-: podría versus podré.
Common trap: Do not use podía when you mean a present polite request. ¿Podrías ayudarme? is conditional and tactful; ¿podías…? normally asks about past ability.