Pouvait-elle (en. Could she)

/pu.vɛ.tɛl/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

verb

Indicates a capacity or possibility in the past for a female person.

Could she understand what was happening at the time?

Pouvait-elle comprendre ce qui se passait à l'époque ?

Expresses a hypothesis about what a woman could do in the past.

I wonder if there were reasons why she could leave.

Je me demande s'il y avait des raisons pour lesquelles pouvait-elle partir.

Used to ask a question about a woman's abilities in the past.

Could she solve this problem on her own?

Pouvait-elle résoudre ce problème toute seule ?

Form of the verb 'to be able' in French, associated with the pronoun 'she'.

could she really?

Did she really have that ability?

pouvait-elle vraiment?

what could she do?

What were the options available to her?

que pouvait-elle faire?

to be able

Verb meaning to have the capacity or possibility to do something.

pouvoir

ability

The possibility or power to do something.

capacité

hypothesis

An assumption or conjecture about what could be.

hypothèse

Concern about a past situation.

When I think about what she could do, it leaves me puzzled.

Quand je pense à ce qu'elle pouvait faire, cela me laisse perplexe.

Question about a missed opportunity.

Could she really seize that chance, or was it too late?

Pouvait-elle vraiment saisir cette chance, ou c'était trop tard ?