pouvoir

The French verb “pouvoir” means “to be able to” or “can” in English. It is an irregular verb that is commonly used in everyday communication. Here is its conjugation in the present tense:

  • Je peux (I can)
  • Tu peux (You can)
  • Il/Elle/On peut (He/She/One can)
  • Nous pouvons (We can)
  • Vous pouvez (You can)
  • Ils/Elles peuvent (They can)

“Pouvoir” is used to express ability, permission, or possibility in various contexts. Its conjugations may change depending on the subject pronoun and the tense of the sentence. It is an essential verb to know for anyone learning French as it is frequently used in both written and spoken language.

Examples:

  1. Je peux nager. (I can swim.)
  2. Tu peux venir avec moi. (You can come with me.)
  3. Il peut parler trois langues. (He can speak three languages.)
  4. Elle peut partir maintenant. (She can leave now.)
  5. On peut manger dehors s’il fait beau. (We can eat outside if the weather is nice.)
  6. Nous pouvons aider nos voisins. (We can help our neighbors.)
  7. Vous pouvez poser des questions. (You can ask questions.)
  8. Ils peuvent venir demain soir. (They can come tomorrow evening.)
  9. Elles peuvent étudier ensemble. (They can study together.)
  10. Les enfants peuvent jouer dans le jardin. (The children can play in the garden.)

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • arriver

    The French verb “arriver” is quite versatile and can translate to different English verbs depending on the context. Here are its main meanings and examples of use: 1. To Arrive This is the most straightforward and common translation. It describes reaching a destination. Example: Notes: 2. To Happen “Arriver” can mean “to happen,” often in…

  • manger sur le pouce

    The French saying “manger sur le pouce” translates literally as “to eat on the thumb.” Figuratively, however, it means “to eat quickly,” “to eat rapidly,” or “to eat hastily.” It dates back to the 19th century. People like factory workers and soldiers often ate on the spot, with one hand holding a piece of bread…

  • Grammar: Irregular verbs

    Here are the 19 most important irregular verbs to know in French. They are important because they are very frequently used. They are also important to know because many exist in compound form (eg, venir is used in the compound forms revenir, devenir, prévenir, provenir, convenir, survenir and advenir, among others). Since these 19 verbs…

  • ne explétif

    Despite its name, the “ne explétif” has nothing to do with the English word “expletive,” which refers to a swear word or exclamation. Instead, “explétif” in French comes from the Latin expletivus, meaning “to fill.” The “ne explétif” is essentially a stylistic or grammatical marker that has no direct effect on the meaning of a…

  • verb: râler

    Meaning The primary meaning of the French verb “râler” is “to grumble” or “to complain.” It is used to express dissatisfaction, annoyance, or frustration, often in a vocal or audible manner. However, “râler” can take on several additional meanings depending on the context: Conjugation “Râler” belongs to the group of regular “-er” verbs, and its…

One Comment

Comments are closed.