Poder conjugation and meaning

Use the present forms of poder for current situations, routines and actions that happen regularly.

Use present estar with pudiendo for an action in progress now.

Use present haber with podido for a completed action connected to the present.

Use present haber, estado and pudiendo to emphasize an activity continuing into the present.

Use the preterite when the action of poder is presented as completed in the past.

Use the imperfect for repeated or ongoing past uses of poder, or for background information.

Use imperfect haber with podido for an action completed before another past point.

Use the future forms of poder for predictions, promises and future statements.

Use future haber with podido for an action that will be complete before a future point.

Use the conditional forms of poder for hypothetical or tactful statements.

Use conditional haber with podido for a hypothetical completed past action.

Use these forms when a current wish, reaction, doubt or another trigger requires the subjunctive.

Use present-subjunctive haber with podido for a completed action in a present subjunctive context.

Use these forms for past subjunctive contexts and hypothetical structures; the equivalent -se series is also accepted where supplied.

Use imperfect-subjunctive haber with podido for an unreal or earlier completed past action.