eles pudessem

could

→ poder
pudes be able to; can + sem they subjunctive past
verb · third plural · imperfect subjunctive Rare #21,968
could Imperfect subjunctive (they/you all). Often used after expressions like “queria que…”, “se…”, or “era melhor que…”.
PO: Eu queria que eles pudessem vir amanhã.
EN: I wanted them to be able to come tomorrow.
Conjugation of poder
SingularPlural
First — podermos
Subjunctive imperfect
SingularPlural
First pudesse pudéssemos
Third pudesse pudessem

Pensei que os senhores me pudessem ajudar.

I thought you gentlemen might be able to help me.

Aonde vocês iriam se pudessem ir a qualquer lugar?

Where would you go if you could go anywhere?

Não havia nada que os médicos pudessem fazer com Layla.

There was nothing the doctors could do for Layla.

Se pudessem fazer uma crítica construtiva, o que diriam?

If you could offer constructive criticism, what would you say?

— F1: O Filme (2025)

Nós o cavamos com nossas mãos para que nossos filhos pudessem beber.

We dug it with our hands so that our children could drink.

— Conflito das Águas (2011)

O orador deveria ficar num lugar onde todos pudessem vê-lo.

The speaker should stand in a place where everyone can see him.

Tom disse que esperava que ele e Mary pudessem comer juntos.

Tom said he hoped that he and Mary could eat together.

Todos os filhos de Fadil morreram antes que pudessem engatinhar.

All of Fadil's children died before they could crawl.

Ele aumentou o som para que todos o pudessem ouvir.

He turned up the volume so that everyone could hear him.

Como se as coisas pudessem ficar piores.

As if things could get any worse.

— Invasão Zumbi (2016)

Eu pensei que as senhoras pudessem me ajudar.

I thought the ladies could help me.

Falei devagar para que pudessem me entender.

I spoke slowly so that they could understand me.

Se os ingleses pudessem te ouvir, deixariam o país neste instante.

If the English could hear you, they would leave the country this instant.

— Pinte de Açafrão (2006)

Pensei que vocês pudessem me ajudar.

I thought you could help me.