Pudieran (en. Could)

/puˈðjeɾan/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishSpanish

verb

Expresses a possibility in the past.

If they could help me, I would appreciate it very much.

Si pudieran ayudarme, lo agradecería mucho.

Indicates an action that could have occurred under certain conditions.

If they had arrived on time, we wouldn’t have missed the train.

Si hubieran llegado a tiempo, no habríamos perdido el tren.

Used in conditional sentences to express wishes or hypothetical situations.

I wish they could come to the party.

Ojalá que pudieran venir a la fiesta.

From the verb 'poder', with the suffix -ieran that indicates the subjunctive form in the past.

What could they do?

Question about someone's possible actions.

¿Qué pudieran hacer?

I didn't believe they could say that.

Expression of surprise regarding a statement.

No creía que pudieran decir eso.

If they could, they would do it.

Hypothetical condition regarding someone’s ability.

Si ellos pudieran, lo harían.

poder

Verb that indicates the ability or possibility to do something.

poder

podría

Conditional form of the verb 'poder'.

podría

pudiese

Another past subjunctive form of the verb 'poder'.

pudiese

It is used in some colloquial contexts to express ease.

You could do it if you wanted to.

Podrías hacerlo si quisieras.

Sometimes it is used ironically to refer to limitations.

Sure, as if they could solve it that easily.

Claro, como si pudieran resolverlo tan fácil.