Pouvoir Conjugation Present Tense – French
About The French verb pouvoir
Meaning of pouvoir
The French verb pouvoir means “to be able to” or “can” in English. It is an irregular verb and does not follow a specific pattern in conjugation.
Examples:
- Je peux venir demain. (I can come tomorrow.)
- Tu peux m’aider s’il te plaît? (Can you help me please?)
- Il peut parler trois langues. (He can speak three languages.)
- Nous pouvons aller au cinéma ce soir. (We can go to the movies tonight.)
- Vous pouvez prendre une pause si vous voulez. (You can take a break if you want.)
Main Uses of the Verb Pouvoir
The French verb “pouvoir” means “to be able to” or “can.” People use it when they want to talk about being able to do something. For example, you might say “Je peux nager” which means “I can swim.” It’s also used to ask for permission, like “Est-ce que je peux aller aux toilettes?” which means “Can I go to the bathroom?” Additionally, it’s handy for talking about possibilities, such as “Il peut pleuvoir demain” meaning “It might rain tomorrow.”
Differences Compared to English
In French, “pouvoir” is a verb that means “to be able to” or “can.” For example, “Je peux nager” means “I can swim.” In English, “power” is a noun that means strength or control, like having the power to make decisions. So, in French, “pouvoir” is something you do, while in English, “power” is something you have. They sound similar but are used very differently!
Chart – Present Tense Conjugation of Pouvoir
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Usage | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| je | peux | Je peux t’aider. | I can help you. |
| tu | peux | Tu peux venir ? | Can you come? |
| il | peut | Il peut parler français. | He can speak French. |
| elle | peut | Elle peut comprendre. | She can understand. |
| on | peut | On peut aller ensemble. | We can go together. |
| nous | pouvons | Nous pouvons partir maintenant. | We can leave now. |
| vous | pouvez | Vous pouvez m’aider ? | Can you help me? |
| ils | peuvent | Ils peuvent venir demain. | They can come tomorrow. |
| elles | peuvent | Elles peuvent danser. | They can dance. |
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Another Common Verb Conjugation
If you enjoyed this conjugation you may want to see another common French verb conjugation: faire conjugated in French present tense or dire conjugated in the present.
Alternatively you can also check out the full pouvoir conjugation in all tenses.
