Spanish
Grade 3
15 min
El verbo 'poder': ¿Qué podemos hacer? (The verb 'poder': What can we do?)
Review the irregular verb 'poder' and use it to talk about what you can do during holidays (Podemos cantar villancicos).
What you'll learn
- Identify at least 3 different activities they can do, using the verb 'poder' correctly in Spanish (e.g., 'Yo puedo nadar').
- Apply the verb 'poder' in a sentence to describe what they or someone else *can* do in Spanish, with 80% accuracy, during a class activity.
- Translate 3 simple sentences from English to Spanish using the verb 'can' ('poder') with correct verb conjugation in a written exercise.
- Explain, in their own words, the meaning of the verb 'poder' in Spanish and provide at least one example of its use.
Tutorial Preview
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify that 'poder' means 'to be able to' or 'can'.
Recognize that 'poder' is a special stem-changing verb where 'o' changes to 'ue'.
Correctly conjugate the verb 'poder' in the present tense for yo, tú, él/ella/usted, nosotros/nosotras, and ellos/ellas/ustedes.
Form simple sentences using the structure 'conjugated poder + infinitive verb' (e.g., 'Yo puedo dibujar').
Ask and answer simple questions about abilities using 'poder' (e.g., '¿Puedes correr?').
Use 'poder' to talk about what they can and cannot do, especially with food and activities.
Do you have superpowers? 💪 What are some amazing things you *can* do?
Today, we are learni...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Verbo (Verb)An action word that tells you what someone or something is doing.Cantar (to sing), comer (to eat), escribir (to write).
PoderA special verb that means 'to be able to' or 'can'.Yo puedo saltar. (I can jump.)
Infinitivo (Infinitive)The original form of a verb before it is changed. In Spanish, infinitives end in -ar, -er, or -ir.Hablar (to talk), correr (to run), vivir (to live).
Conjugar (To Conjugate)To change a verb to match the person or thing doing the action.The verb 'poder' changes to 'puedo' for 'yo' (I).
Verbo de cambio radical (Stem-Changing Verb)A special verb where a vowel in the middle (the stem) changes when you conjugate it.In 'poder', the 'o' changes to 'ue' for m...
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Grammar Rules & Patterns
The Power Duo Formula: Poder + Infinitive
Subject + (conjugated 'poder') + (infinitive verb)
When you say someone *can do* something, you only conjugate the verb 'poder'. The second verb, which is the action, always stays in its original infinitive form (ending in -ar, -er, or -ir).
The 'Boot Verb' Stem Change: o → ue
The 'o' in 'poder' changes to 'ue' for yo, tú, él/ella/usted, and ellos/ellas/ustedes.
This is a special rule for 'poder'. Imagine a boot drawn around the conjugation chart. The subjects inside the boot (yo, tú, él, ellos) change. The 'nosotros' form is outside the boot, so it does NOT change. It stays 'podemos'.
4 more steps in this tutorial
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Challenging
Tú tienes tortillas y queso. Yo tengo pollo y frijoles. Si juntamos nuestra comida, ¿qué podemos preparar?
A.Podemos preparar unos tacos deliciosos.
B.Podemos preparar una ensalada de frutas.
C.Podemos preparar una sopa de verduras.
D.Podemos preparar un sándwich de jamón.
Challenging
En una banda de música, Leo puede tocar la guitarra, Sara puede cantar y yo puedo tocar la batería. ¿Qué podemos hacer los tres juntos?
A.Podemos pintar un cuadro.
B.Podemos interpretar una canción completa.
C.Cada uno puede practicar por separado.
D.Podemos leer un libro en voz alta.
Challenging
Si 'poder' se refiere a una habilidad o posibilidad, ¿qué frase describe algo que un ser humano normalmente no puede hacer, sin importar cuánto lo intente?
A.Yo puedo aprender a hablar chino.
B.Yo puedo correr una maratón si entreno.
C.Yo puedo construir una casa con ayuda.
D.Yo puedo respirar bajo el agua sin equipo.
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Frequently asked questions
What grade level is "El verbo 'poder': ¿Qué podemos hacer? (The verb 'poder': What can we do?)"?
El verbo 'poder': ¿Qué podemos hacer? (The verb 'poder': What can we do?) is a Grade 3 Spanish lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in El verbo 'poder': ¿Qué podemos hacer? (The verb 'poder': What can we do?)?
You'll be able to: Identify at least 3 different activities they can do, using the verb 'poder' correctly in Spanish (e.g., 'Yo puedo nadar'); Apply the verb 'poder' in a sentence to describe what they or someone else *can* do in Spanish, with 80%….
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How many practice questions are included with El verbo 'poder': ¿Qué podemos hacer? (The verb 'poder': What can we do?)?
This lesson includes 25 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.