was able to, could, as … as one could
Él pudo reducir los impuestos.
He was able to reduce the taxes.
Nadie pudo resolver el problema.
Nobody could solve the problem.
Pero le recordaba a alguien, y no lo pudo evitar.
But he reminded her of someone, and she couldn't help it.
— Escondido (2005)
Sí, mucha gente ha intentado averiguar cómo pudo gastar tanto.
Yes, a lot of people have tried to figure out how he could have spent so much.
Usted pudo escoger a su compañero de nivel.
You were able to choose your partner at the same level.
— El hoyo (2019)
¿No sabes dónde pudo haberse ido?
Do you have any idea where they might have gone?
— El tiempo contigo (2019)
It could have been a fit of rage.
— Oldboy: Cinco días para vengarse (2003)
Tom pudo haber tenido un cómplice.
Tom may have had an accomplice.
Tom hizo el trabajo lo mejor que pudo.
Tom did the best job he could.
He came as soon as he could.
Corrió hacia mí lo más rápido que pudo.
He ran towards me as fast as he could.
Corrió tan rápido como pudo con la esperanza de no perder el tren.
He ran as fast as he could in the hope of not missing the train.
He did the best he could.
Usted lo hizo lo mejor que pudo.
You did the best you could.