Poner vs Poder?

John L.A2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Poner vs Poder?

Why is it pones but puedes? Both words start with "po."
Asked 6 years ago
InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hola John

There are certain verbs that undergo vowel changes when they are conjugated in the present. These verbs aren't grouped depending on how they are written. It is random verbs. So these two verbs "poner" and "poder" both have stem-changes but different ones:

Poner (to put)

Yo pongo

Poder (to be able to)

Yo puedo

I hope this helped.

Inma

Ben B.A2Kwiziq community member

Maybe this will help me to understand this concept:

¿Me  pongo un café por favor? Could I get a coffee please?

Picture pouring coffee on yourself.


¿Me  pone un café por favor? Could you get me a coffee please?

Picture someone in a restaurant putting coffee in front of you.

Yes this seems different from how we would say this in English.

Question: Is this construct used in Latin American Spanish?

John L. asked:

Poner vs Poder?

Why is it pones but puedes? Both words start with "po."

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