We use puede que followed by the Modo subjuntivo to express probability or possibility (It is possible that..., I may ..., You may..., It may...)
Expressing probability/possibility in the present or future in Spanish
If the probability/possibility is related to a present or future situation, you will find El Presente de Subjuntivo after puede que.
See and listen to the following examples:
Possibility in the present
No encuentro el lugar en el mapa. Puede que estemos perdidos.I cannot find the place on the map. We may be lost.
Possibility in the future
Expressing probability/possibility in the past in Spanish
If the probability is related to a past situation, the verb will be in one of two past subjunctives.
See and listen to the folowing examples:
Carla no ha llegado. Puede que perdiera el tren de las 3.Carla hasn't arrived. She may have missed the 3 o'clock train.
Puede que yo haya sido un poco brusca, pero tenía que decir la verdad.I may have been a bit abrupt, but I had to tell the truth.
Both El Pretérito Imperfecto Subjuntivo and El Pretérito Perfecto Subjuntivo express a possibility in the past. Using one or the other just depends on whether you want to convey the completion of the action (use the perfect subjunctive, e.g., haya ido, haya comprado...) or a more generic action in the past (use the imperfect subjunctive, e.g., fuera, comprara, hiciese...)
"Puede que" is invariable. It is always conjugated in the present tense and 3rd person singular, regardless of the subject. This would be incorrect: "Puedo que yo no vaya hoy al cine."
See also Using the subjunctive or the indicative after tal vez and quizás to express doubt in Spanish
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Examples and resources
Carla no ha llegado. Puede que perdiera el tren de las 3.Carla hasn't arrived. She may have missed the 3 o'clock train.
Puede que yo haya sido un poco brusca, pero tenía que decir la verdad.I may have been a bit abrupt, but I had to tell the truth.
Puede que Dalí fuera muy excéntrico, pero sin duda era un genio.Dalí may have been very eccentric, but there is no doubt he was a genius.
No compres mucho alcohol para la fiesta porque puede que los chicos ya hayan comprado bastante.Don't buy a lot of alcohol for the party because the boys may have already bought quite a lot.
