Podia (en. Could)

/ˈpo.ði.a/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishSpanish

verb

Indicates the capacity or possibility to do something in the past.

When I was a child, I could run much faster.

Cuando era niño, yo podía correr mucho más rápido.

Used in the context of suggestions or past possibilities.

I could have gone to the party, but I decided to stay home.

Podía haber ido a la fiesta, pero decidí quedarme en casa.

Refers to situations in which a person had the ability to perform an action.

She could play the piano from a young age.

Ella podía tocar el piano desde temprana edad.

Expresses an opportunity that existed in the past.

If I had wanted to, I could have studied medicine.

Si hubiera querido, podía haber estudiado medicina.

From Latin 'posse', which means to be able.

could have

Indicates an unrealized possibility in the past.

podía haber

as I could

Expresses doubt or amazement about someone's ability.

como podía

if I could

Use of conditional to talk about past abilities.

si podía

poder

Verb that means to have the capacity or possibility to do something.

poder

puedo

First person, singular, of the present indicative of the verb poder.

puedo

podría

Conditional of 'poder', indicating future possibility.

podría

To be able to do something that is unusual.

If I wanted to go out, I could do it tonight.

Si quería salir, podía hacerlo esta noche.

Reference to an action that was possible but not carried out.

I could have finished the project, but I left it for later.

Podía haber terminado el proyecto, pero lo dejé para después.