pudiera

could

→ poder
pud can; be able to + iera imperfect subjunctive
verb · imperfect subjunctive Common #4,698
could Imperfect subjunctive of "poder"; often used after expressions of doubt, desire, or possibility, or in conditional phrases ("if...").
SP: Si pudiera, te ayudaría ahora mismo.
EN: If I could, I would help you right now.
Conjugation of poder
Subjunctive imperfect
SingularPlural
First podía pudiéramos
Second pudieras —
Third podía —
pudiera

Tom le dio dinero a Mary para que pudiera comprarse unos dulces.

Tom gave Mary money so she could buy some sweets.

Eres todo lo que un hombre pudiera desear.

You are everything a man could wish for.

Él colgó antes de que pudiera decir nada.

He hung up before she could say anything.

Él no decía nada que pudiera hacerla enfadar.

He didn't say anything that could make her angry.

Si sólo pudiera cantar bien.

If only I could sing well.

Antes de que pudiera decírselo.

Before I could tell him.

— Campo de sueños (1989)

No creo que nadie pudiera haber detenido a Tom.

I don't think anyone could have stopped Tom.

Le prometí al médico descansar cuando pudiera.

I promised the doctor to rest when I could.

No creí que nadie más pudiera hacer mi trabajo.

I didn’t think anyone else could do my job.

Yo quise ayudar, pero no había nada que pudiera hacer.

I wanted to help, but there was nothing I could do.

Bueno, si pudiera verlos a ambos.

Well, if I could see them both.

— Zootrópolis 2 (2025)

En latín, si no pudiera.

In Latin, if I couldn't.

— O Auto da Compadecida (2000)

Yo hablé alto para que todo el mundo pudiera oírme.

I spoke loudly so that everyone could hear me.

Los demás chicos se sorprendieron de que pudiera correr tan rápido.

The other boys were surprised that he could run so fast.

— It's Such a Beautiful Day (2012)

Tom no quería hacer nada que pudiera lamentar.

Tom didn't want to do anything he might regret.

Pudiera ser.

It could be.

— A primera vista (2014)

Quién lo pudiera cazar.

If only I could hunt him down.

— Malèna (2000)

Rompieron la puerta antes de que pudiera tomar pedidos.

They broke down the door before I could take orders.

— Cadena perpetua (1994)

Desearía que Laura pudiera vernos.

I wish Laura could see us.

— Malcolm X (1992)

Me entristece mucho que no pudiera decírselos.

I am very saddened that I couldn't tell them.

— La gran enfermedad del amor (2017)

Tom prometió hacer todo lo que pudiera para ayudarme.

Tom promised to do everything he could to help me.

Para que ella pudiera hablar contigo sobre esto.

So she could talk to you about this.

El aire de Londres no era algo de lo que se pudiera presumir, ni mucho menos.

The air in London was not something to boast about, not by a long shot.

Ojalá tuviera una mujer que no pudiera hablar.

I wish I had a wife who couldn't speak.

— Lars y una chica de verdad (2007)

Si yo pudiera, yo me quedaría.

If I could, I would stay.

Para que pudiera ver bien los peces.

So that I could see the fish well.

Siento que no pudiera ser de más ayuda.

I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Tom parece verdaderamente asustado por lo que pudiera pasar.

Tom seems genuinely scared about what might happen.

Robaste el producto y asesinaste a Nick para que ella no pudiera hablar.

You stole the product and murdered Nick so that she couldn't talk.

— Sin piedad (2026)

Es una pena que Nick no pudiera venir.

It's a shame Nick couldn't come.

— Control (2007)

Lamento que no pudiera ir con ella.

I'm sorry I couldn't go with her.

No quería que supieras nada que pudiera meterte en problemas.

I didn't want you to know anything that could get you into trouble.

— Jojo Rabbit (2019)

Tom quería un lugar en el país que pudiera llamar hogar.

Tom wanted a place in the country he could call home.

Si yo hubiera hecho lo mejor que pudiera, tal vez habría tenido éxito.

If I had done my best, perhaps I would have succeeded.

Ojalá ella pudiera verte ahora.

I wish she could see you now.

Es una enorme lástima que tu esposa no pudiera venir.

It’s such a shame that your wife couldn’t come.

Y si se pudiera ser un niño para siempre?

What if you could be a child forever?

Si tan solo pudiera tapar este agujero, podría volar nuevamente.

If only I could plug this hole, I could fly again.

— El chico y la garza (2023)

Fue una pena que Tom no pudiera venir a nuestra fiesta.

It was a shame that Tom couldn't come to our party.

Ella no dijo nada que pudiera ponerlo furioso.

She didn't say anything that could have made him furious.

Si Satanás pudiera amar, dejaría de ser malvado.

If Satan could love, he would cease to be evil.

No había nada que Tom pudiera hacer para ayudar a Mary.

There was nothing Tom could do to help Mary.

Tom le quitó la pistola a Mary antes de que ella pudiera suicidarse.

Tom took the gun away from Mary before she could commit suicide.

No había nada que pudiera hacer para ayudar.

There was nothing I could do to help.

Si tu padre pudiera verte ahora.

If your father could see you now.

Sólo buscaba a alguien que pudiera ver lo que yo veo.

I was just looking for someone who could see what I see.

— Todo a la vez en todas partes (2022)

Le dije que haría lo que pudiera.

I told him I would do what I could.

Nunca imaginé que pudiera llorar tanto.

I never imagined I could cry so much.

— Chungking Express (1994)

Tom lo hizo sonar como si yo pudiera decidir.

Tom made it sound like I could decide.

Tom dijo que no conocía a nadie que pudiera pilotar un helicóptero.

Tom said he didn't know anyone who could pilot a helicopter.

Hablé en inglés para que Tom me pudiera entender.

I spoke in English so that Tom could understand me.

Lo dejé ir para que pudiera traerte a mí.

I let him go so he could bring you to me.

Tom parece estar verdaderamente asustado por lo que pudiera pasar.

Tom seems genuinely scared about what might happen.

Tom me preguntó si conocía a alguien que pudiera traducir de francés a inglés.

Tom asked me if I knew anyone who could translate from French into English.

Para que pudiera ser útil.

So that it could be useful.

— Bugonia (2025)

No creo que pudiera hacer eso.

I don't think I could do that.

Siquiera yo pudiera ir a esquiar.

I wish I could go skiing.

No había nada que yo pudiera hacer.

There was nothing I could do.

Y si el secreto escondido aquí pudiera?

What if the secret hidden here could?

— Zootrópolis 2 (2025)

Si se pudiera hacer así no me tendría que preocupar más.

If it could be done that way, I wouldn't have to worry anymore.

— Perdición (1944)

El hielo era lo suficientemente grueso para que yo pudiera andar sobre él.

The ice was thick enough for me to walk on.

Todavía no he conocido a nadie más en quien pudiera confiar para esto.

I haven't met anyone else yet that I could trust with this.

— Greenland 2 (2026)

Salí temprano, así pudiera conseguir un buen asiento.

I left early so I could get a good seat.

Si se le diera otra oportunidad, él lo haría lo mejor que pudiera.

If he were given another chance, he would do the best he could.

Si le dieran otra oportunidad, lo haría lo mejor que pudiera.

If I were given another chance, I would do the best I could.

Si tan solo pudiera explicar bien mi punto débil.

If only I could explain my weak point properly.

— No hay otra opción (2025)

Tom no sabía que Mary pudiera cantar tan bien.

Tom didn't know that Mary could sing so well.

Quería que Tom condujera para que yo pudiera dormir.

I wanted Tom to drive so I could sleep.

Si tan solo yo pudiera hablar francés.

If only I could speak French.

Haría todo lo que pudiera para mantenerlo vivo.

I would do everything I could to keep him alive.

Si tan sólo pudiera cantar bien.

If only I could sing well.

Sabes que no existe nada que no pudiera darte.

You know there's nothing I couldn't give you.

— Titanic (1997)

auxiliary · third singular · subjunctive Common #6,750
could Imperfect subjunctive (also used in conditional-style clauses in some contexts).
SP: Si yo pudiera, te ayudaría hoy.
EN: If I could, I would help you today.
Conjugation of poder
Subjunctive
SingularPlural
First — podamos
Third pudiera —

Esperaba que pudiera ayudarme con el jet lag.

I was hoping it could help me with jet lag.

— TÁR (2022)

Pero, antes de que pudiera empezar, Tengo una llamada de Calcuta.

But before I could start, I got a call from Calcutta.

— बर्फी! (2012)

Es un milagro que yo pudiera vencer el cáncer.

It's a miracle that I was able to beat cancer.

Si algo pudiera cambiar, ¿qué te gustaría que fuera?

If you could change anything, what would you like it to be?

Tu película para adultos terminó antes de que pudiera empezar.

Your adult film ended before it could even begin.

— Queen (2014)

No creía que me pudiera pasar algo así.

I didn't think something like this could happen to me.

— Perdición (1944)

No creo que pudiera haberme detenido.

I don't think I could have stopped myself.

— Drácula (2025)

Puede que ella haya discutido con él, pero no creo que pudiera pegarle.

She may have argued with him, but I don't think she could have hit him.

Iba sonriendo por la calle como si nada malo pudiera pasarle.

She was walking down the street smiling as if nothing bad could happen to her.

Tal vez pudiera permitirle que salga sola.

Perhaps I could allow her to go out alone.

— Retrato de una mujer en llamas (2019)

Si solo pudiera hablar francés.

If only I could speak French.

Tom no podía creer que María pudiera ser tan tonta.

Tom couldn't believe that María could be so stupid.

Y yo me quité la idea de que pudiera haber hecho algo de la cabeza.

And I dismissed the idea that I might have done something wrong.

— Perdición (1944)

Me pregunto si Tom pudiera ayudarnos.

I wonder if Tom could help us.

Me hice a un lado para que pudiera pasar.

I stepped aside so he could pass.

Tuve miedo de que pudiera herir sus sentimientos.

I was afraid I might hurt her feelings.

Tom necesitaba a alguien con quien pudiera hablar de sus problemas.

Tom needed someone he could talk to about his problems.

Usted dijo que quería que Ri-won pudiera vivir de forma independiente.

You said you wanted Ri-won to be able to live independently.

— No hay otra opción (2025)

No creo que pudiera soportar pasar seis horas contigo a solas.

I don't think I could stand spending six hours alone with you.

Si sólo pudiera atrapar a esos malditos alemanes.

If only I could catch those damned Germans.

— Taxi Express (1998)

No hay manera de que Tom pudiera haber robado el dinero sin ser visto.

There’s no way Tom could have stolen the money without being seen.

Ella agitó las dos manos para que él la pudiera encontrar.

She waved both hands so he could find her.

Tenia miedo de que se pudiera hundir, pero estaba perfecta.

I was afraid it might sink, but it was perfect.

— Perdición (1944)

Él llevaba una máscara, de forma que nadie pudiera reconocerle.

He wore a mask so that no one could recognize him.

Si algo pudiera cambiar, ¿qué querrías que fuera?

If anything could change, what would you want it to be?

Tom no sabía que Mary pudiera hablar francés.

Tom didn't know that Mary could speak French.

Si pudiera pedir un deseo, desearía que pudiera recuperar el tiempo perdido.

If I could make one wish, I’d wish I could get back the time I’ve lost.

Estuve viviendo con mis padres hasta que encontré un apartamento que pudiera pagar con mi sueldo.

I was living with my parents until I found an apartment I could afford with my salary.

Si Don Pablo pudiera oírte, no lo aprobaría.

If Don Pablo could hear you, he wouldn't approve.

— El cartero (y Pablo Neruda) (1994)

Si este clima loco pudiera arreglarse con un sacrificio humano, lo agradecería.

If this crazy weather could be fixed with a human sacrifice, I’d appreciate it.

— El tiempo contigo (2019)

Si solo pudiera ayudar al Maestro Yupa.

If only I could help Master Yupa.

— Nausicaä del valle del viento (1984)

Pudiera darnos una idea de lo que necesitamos.

You could give us an idea of what we need.

— A primera vista (2014)

Ojalá yo pudiera volar.

I wish I could fly.

— Nicky, la aprendiz de bruja (1989)

Quizás te lo podamos conseguir, la marina pudiera resolverlo.

Maybe we can get it for you, the navy could sort it out.

Nos escondimos tras un arbusto para que nadie pudiera vernos.

We hid behind a bush so that no one could see us.

Se puso una máscara para que nadie pudiera reconocerle.

He put on a mask so that no one could recognize him.

Y no sería algo que se pudiera resolver con la renuncia del ministro.

And it wouldn't be something that could be resolved with the minister's resignation.

— Ghost in the Shell (1995)

No creí que pudiera vernos.

I didn't think he could see us.

— Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Si usted sabe algo al respecto, esperaba que pudiera decírmelo.

If you know anything about it, I was hoping you could tell me.

— Guardianes de la Noche: Tren infinito (2020)

Si yo pudiera vivir de nuevo, me gustaría ser un músico.

If I could live again, I would like to be a musician.

Azad no era un hombre al que se pudiera encontrar fácilmente.

Azad was not a man who could be easily found.

— Rang De Basanti (2006)

Pero no habia mentira alguna que pudiera salvar a Satine.

But there was no lie that could save Satine.

— Moulin Rouge (2001)

Los detalles hicieron que no pudiera soportarlo más.

The details made it impossible for me to bear it any longer.

— El hoyo (2019)

Si solo pudiera ir a esquiar.

If only I could go skiing.

Lamento que no pudiera cumplir con tus expectativas.

I'm sorry I couldn't meet your expectations.

No hay manera de que yo pudiera hacer algo así en frente de la gente.

There's no way I could do something like that in front of people.

Sé que son cosas personales, pero quizá pudiera ayudar, si supiera cómo.

I know these are personal matters, but perhaps I could help, if I knew how.

— Un lugar en ninguna parte (1988)

Desearía que Tom pudiera quedarse más tiempo.

I wish Tom could stay longer.

Realmente no pensé que Tom pudiera hacer eso.

I really didn't think Tom could do that.

Nos alegraría mucho que pudiera venir con nosotros.

We would be delighted if you could come with us.

Es difícil creer que Tom pudiera matar a alguien.

It's hard to believe that Tom could kill someone.

Ojalá la pudiera ver.

I wish I could see it.