podía oír a

could hear

→ poder

phrase Rare #37,775

could hear The a before a person or animal marks it as the object of oír and is not translated separately.

SP: Podía oír a los niños desde la cocina.

EN: I could hear the children from the kitchen.

Tom dijo que podía oír a Mary y John discutiendo.

Tom said he could hear Mary and John arguing.

Tom no podía oír a Mary.

Tom couldn't hear Mary.

Tom podía oír a Mary cantando en su dormitorio.

Tom could hear Mary singing in her bedroom.

Tom podía oír a Mary, pero no podía verla.

Tom could hear Mary, but he couldn't see her.