Pouvait (en. Could)

/pu.vɛ/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

verb

Indicates a capacity or possibility in the past.

She could come to the party if she had the time.

Elle pouvait venir à la fête si elle avait eu le temps.

Expresses a potentially realizable action by the subject.

He could accomplish this project with more time.

Il pouvait réaliser ce projet avec plus de temps.

Used to express a wish or hypothesis in the past.

We could leave earlier if it weren't raining.

Nous pouvions partir plus tôt si la pluie ne tombait pas.

Comes from the Latin 'potere', meaning 'to have power' or 'to be able'.

could do better

Indicates that something could have been done with more skill.

pouvait mieux faire

we couldn't have said it better

Expresses that one could not find a better expression or explanation.

on ne pouvait pas mieux dire

what could happen

Refers to possible consequences.

ce qui pouvait arriver

to be able

Verb that indicates the ability or possibility to do something.

pouvoir

ability

Quality of being able or capable.

capacité

possibility

State of being possible, of being likely to occur.

possibilité

To be in the loop

Back then, wild things could happen.

À l'époque, il pouvait se passer des choses folles.

To have a say

He could give his opinion on the matter.

Il pouvait donner son avis sur la question.