Pouvait-il (en. Could he)

/pu.vɛ.t il/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

verb

Expression used to ask a question about ability or possibility.

Could he finish the project on time?

Pouvait-il terminer le projet à temps ?

Used to inquire about a fact or hypothetical situation.

Could it have been a misunderstanding?

Pouvait-il s'agir d'un malentendu ?

Used to express a past possibility or ability.

At that time, could he really travel alone?

À l'époque, pouvait-il vraiment voyager seul ?

Contraction of 'could' (from the verb can) and the personal pronoun 'he'.

Could he do as much?

Questions the ability to accomplish a similar task.

Pouvait-il en faire autant ?

Could he succeed?

Poses a question about the possible success of an action.

Pouvait-il y arriver ?

Could he be wrong?

Raises the possibility that a person may have made a mistake.

Pouvait-il avoir tort ?

can

Verb meaning to have the ability or potential to do something.

pouvoir

capable

Adjective meaning to be able to do something.

capable

possibility

Noun denoting the potential for something to occur or be realized.

possibilité

Maybe

He's not sure, but could he really?

Il n'est pas sûr, mais pouvait-il vraiment ?

We don't know

Could he? Frankly, I have no idea.

Pouvait-il? Franchement, je n'en ai aucune idée.