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Poder Preterite Practice

Poder (to be able to, can) in the preterite: 14 free exercises with an explanation after every answer, plus the full conjugation table.

14 exercisesStem-changing o→ueA1 – A2 level
IWhat to watch for

In the preterite, poder switches to the strong stem pud- and takes the unstressed irregular endings: pude, pudiste, pudo, pudimos, pudisteis, pudieron — no accent marks anywhere. The same pattern you see in tener → tuve and estar → estuve.

The real difficulty is meaning, not form: in the preterite, pude means 'I managed to' (succeeded at a specific moment), and no pude means 'I tried and failed'. If you just had the ongoing ability, Spanish uses the imperfect podía instead. Every sentence below describes one concrete, completed success or failure.

IIConjugation
poderPreterite
yo
pude
pudiste
él / ella / usted
pudo
nosotros
pudimos
vosotros
pudisteis
ellos / ustedes
pudieron
o→ue in the present (puedo), strong preterite stem pud-, future stem podr-.
IIIPractice exercises

Practice.

Answer first, then read the explanation. Don't skip it — that's the whole point.

Exercise 01 of 14Tag: Irregular stem
Fill in the blank

Ayer por fin _____ terminar el informe para mi jefa. (poder)

Yesterday I finally managed to finish the report for my boss.

Exercise 02 of 14Tag: Tú form
Fill in the blank

¿_____ dormir bien anoche con tanto ruido? (poder)

Were you able to sleep well last night with so much noise?

Exercise 03 of 14Tag: No pudo = failed
Fill in the blank

Sofía no _____ llegar a tiempo por el tráfico. (poder)

Sofía couldn't make it on time because of the traffic.

Exercise 04 of 14Tag: Nosotros form
Fill in the blank

Mi esposo y yo no _____ encontrar estacionamiento cerca del teatro. (poder)

My husband and I couldn't find parking near the theater.

Exercise 05 of 14Tag: Irregular stem
Fill in the blank

Los bomberos _____ apagar el incendio en pocas horas. (poder)

The firefighters managed to put out the fire in a few hours.

Exercise 06 of 14Tag: No pude = failed
Fill in the blank

El sábado no _____ ir al gimnasio porque me enfermé. (poder)

On Saturday I couldn't go to the gym because I got sick.

Exercise 07 of 14Tag: Tú form
Fill in the blank

¿Al final tú _____ cambiar el vuelo la semana pasada? (poder)

In the end, did you manage to change the flight last week?

Exercise 08 of 14Tag: Pudo = managed to
Fill in the blank

Gracias a la beca, Andrés _____ estudiar en Canadá el año pasado. (poder)

Thanks to the scholarship, Andrés was able to study in Canada last year.

Exercise 09 of 14Tag: Nosotros form
Fill in the blank

Anoche nosotros no _____ ver la película completa. (poder)

Last night we couldn't watch the whole movie.

Exercise 10 of 14Tag: Pudieron = managed to
Fill in the blank

Después de tres intentos, mis primos _____ armar la carpa. (poder)

After three tries, my cousins managed to set up the tent.

Exercise 11 of 14Tag: Irregular stem
Fill in the blank

De repente _____ recordar dónde dejé las llaves. (poder)

Suddenly I was able to remember where I left the keys.

Exercise 12 of 14Tag: Tú form
Fill in the blank

¿Tú _____ comprar el pan antes de que cerraran? (poder)

Did you manage to buy the bread before they closed?

Exercise 13 of 14Tag: No pudo = failed
Fill in the blank

La cantante no _____ dar el concierto por la tormenta. (poder)

The singer couldn't give the concert because of the storm.

Exercise 14 of 14Tag: Ellos form
Fill in the blank

Mis padres finalmente _____ vender la casa en diciembre. (poder)

My parents finally managed to sell the house in December.

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Not just a green check. A short paragraph telling you why.

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