Yo puedo... (I can...)

Learning Objectives Say 'I can...' in Spanish using 'Yo puedo...' Use 'Yo puedo' with at least five different -AR verbs related to playing. Form simple, correct sentences like 'Yo puedo saltar la cuerda.' Identify the infinitive form of a verb (the part that ends in -AR). Understand that the verb following 'puedo' does not change its ending. Answer the question '¿Qué puedes hacer?' with a 'Yo puedo...' sentence. What is your favorite thing to do at recess? 🤸‍♀️ Let's learn how to tell our friends all the fun things we can do in Spanish! In this lesson, we will learn the super useful phrase 'Yo puedo,' which means 'I can.' We will combine it with action words (verbs) for playing,...

TermDefinitionExample Yo puedoA phrase in Spanish that means 'I can.' It tells someone what you are able to do.Yo puedo dibujar. (I can draw.) VerboA verb is an action word. It describes what someone or something is doing.Cantar (to sing), correr (to run), comer (to eat). InfinitivoThe original, unchanged form of a verb. In Spanish, these verbs end in -AR, -ER, or -IR.Jugar (to play) is an infinitive. 'Juego' (I play) is not. JugarThe Spanish verb that means 'to play,' especially for games and sports.Me gusta jugar al fútbol. (I like to play soccer.) SaltarThe Spanish verb that means 'to jump.'Yo puedo saltar muy alto. (I can jump very high.) CantarThe Spanish verb that means 'to sing.'Yo puedo cantar una canción. (I can sing a song.)

The 'Yo puedo + Infinitive' Formula Yo puedo + [verbo en infinitivo] To say you can do an action, always start with 'Yo puedo' and then add the action word in its original '-AR' form. The second verb doesn't change! The Verb After 'Puedo' Rests The verb immediately following 'puedo' always stays in its infinitive form. Even though you know how to change verb endings for 'yo' (like 'yo hablo'), you don't do it here. 'Puedo' does all the work, so the next verb gets to rest.