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An able French verb
Pouvoir is a very common French verb with irregular conjugations and an unusual relationship to some of its English equivalents.* Pouvoir generally means "can" or "to be able," but it’s a bit more complicated in certain tenses.
Pouvoir = can, to be able (ability)
| Tu peux finir ce projet. | You can finish this project. | |
| Je peux manger une pizza entière. | I can eat a whole pizza. |
Pouvoir = can (request)
| Peux-tu trouver mes clés ? | Can you find my keys? | |
| Pouvez-vous ouvrir la porte ? | Can you open the door? |
Pouvoir = may, might (possibility)
| Je peux arriver vers midi. | I may arrive around noon. | |
| Anne peut téléphoner demain. | Anne might call tomorrow. |
To stress the possibility aspect, these ^ could be in the conditional.
Pouvoir = may (permission)
| Pouvons-nous partir à 14h ? | May we leave at 2pm? | |
| Puis-je vous aider ? | May I help you? |
Puis is a special je conjugation of pouvoir, used only in questions.
Pouvoir in the Conditional
In the conditional, pouvoir expresses a polite offer or request.
| Je pourrais vous y amener. | I could take you. | |
| Pourriez-vous nous aider ? | Could you help us? |
In the past conditional, it means could/might have done, in terms of both ability and possibility.
| J’aurais pu vous y amener. | I could have taken you. | |
| Il aurait pu mentir. | He might have lied. |
Pouvoir in the Subjunctive
In the subjunctive, pouvoir expresses a very formal wish.
| Puisse le ciel les aider ! | (May) Heaven help them! | |
| Puissiez-vous avoir raison ! | I truly hope you’re right! |
Il se peut
As a pronominal impersonal verb, il se peut means "it’s possible" and requires the subjunctive.
| Il se peut qu’elle soit malade. | It’s possible that she’s sick. | |
| Il se peut que tu aies raison. | You might be right. |
* Whereas pouvoir is a fully conjugable verb, three of its common English equivalents – can, may, and might – are modal verbs, which have just a single form.
Pouvoir in Past Tenses
Pouvoir has different meanings in the passé composé and imparfait.
Passé composé
Pouvoir = could, managed to, succeeded in.
| J’ai pu finir le projet. | I succeeded in finishing the project. | |
| Avez-vous pu partir tôt ? | Did you manage to leave early? | |
| Il n’a pas pu lire. | He didn’t manage to read. |
Imparfait
Pouvoir = could, was capable of (but no indication as to whether it actually happened)
| Je pouvais finir le projet. | I was capable of finishing the project. (but did I?) | |
| Pouviez-vous partir tôt ? | Could you leave early? (was it possible?) | |
| Il ne pouvait pas lire. | He couldn’t read. (there wasn’t enough light) |
Pouvoir in action
- How to use pouvoir
- Does il se peut que need the subjunctive?
- Some English translations for pouvoir are modal verbs.
- Pouvoir is one of seven verbs that can be made negative with the ne littéraire (ne without pas).
Related lessons
- Pouvoir conjugations
- Top 10 irregular verbs
- Introduction to verbs
- Modal verbs in French
- Semi-auxiliary verbs
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