Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Translations


Question about poder

 

If you need help translating a sentence or longer piece of text, use this forum. For translations or definitions of a single word or idiom, use the vocabulary forum.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old August 12, 2010, 11:17 PM
maybnxtseasn maybnxtseasn is offline
Opal
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 18
maybnxtseasn is on a distinguished road
Question about poder

im curious as to when i actually use poder lol...im sorry if this sounds dumb but ive noticed in most of my sentences that i use in english that use the word "can" don't translate to using it in espanol...for example..

can you tell carlos he is bad at games <-- or atleast ive been told it doesnt use poder
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old August 13, 2010, 01:10 AM
JPablo's Avatar
JPablo JPablo is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5,579
Native Language: Spanish (Castilian, peninsular)
JPablo is on a distinguished road
Puedes usar "poder" siempre que quieras.
(You can use "can" anytime you want.)

¿Puedes decirle a Carlos que a él no se le dan los juegos?

Does that answer your question?

Yes, you can!
Sí, ¡tú puedes!
__________________
Lo propio de la verdad es que se basta a sí misma, aquel que la posee no intenta convencer a nadie.
"An enemy is somebody who flatters you. A friend is somebody who criticizes the living daylights out of you."
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old August 13, 2010, 01:17 AM
irmamar's Avatar
irmamar irmamar is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,071
Native Language: Español
irmamar is on a distinguished road
Puedes usar "poder" como "may" o "be able to", también:

¿Puedo hacer esto? - May I do that?
Yo puedo hacerlo - I'm able to do that.

"Poder" is also a noun: power.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old August 13, 2010, 05:38 AM
laepelba's Avatar
laepelba laepelba is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Suburbs of Washington, DC (Northern Virginia)
Posts: 4,683
Native Language: American English (Northeastern US)
laepelba is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by maybnxtseasn View Post
im curious as to when i actually use poder lol...im sorry if this sounds dumb but ive noticed in most of my sentences that i use in english that use the word "can" don't translate to using it in espanol...for example..

can you tell carlos he is bad at games <-- or atleast ive been told it doesnt use poder
I agree with JPablo & Irma about the meanings and use of "poder", and of course, they know better than I do!

But I have to point out that in the English, "Can you tell Carlos..." is not always used correctly. When you consider that "poder" means "to be able", we don't always use "can" that way in English...

Sometimes it would be better to say: "Will you tell Carlos...." (making a request).

So, if you use "poder", I believe that it would work like this:
- Spanish: ¿Puedes decirle a Carlos que a él no se le dan los juegos?
- English: Are you able to tell Carlos that he is bad at games? (That would leave me wondering why you may or may not be able to tell Carlos something...)

If you simply want to request that this information be passed along, in English we would usually state it as a question:
- Can you tell Carlos that he is bad at games?
But it might be more correct with the word "will":
- Will you tell Carlos that he is bad at games?

I believe (Pablo or Irma, please correct me here if I'm wrong), that in the Spanish, it doesn't need the "can" or "will" part to be a request:
- (Por favor,) Di a Carlos que a él no se le dan los juegos.

Take a look at this discussion, which may be helpful:
http://forums.tomisimo.org/showthread.php?t=6655
__________________
- Lou Ann, de Washington, DC, USA
Específicamente quiero recibir ayuda con el español de latinoamerica. ¡Muchísimas gracias!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old August 13, 2010, 07:11 AM
chileno's Avatar
chileno chileno is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Posts: 7,863
Native Language: Castellano
chileno is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by laepelba View Post

If you simply want to request that this information be passed along, in English we would usually state it as a question:
- Can you tell Carlos that he is bad at games?
But it might be more correct with the word "will":
- Will you tell Carlos that he is bad at games?
Right. Same with "Can I help you?" instead of the more correct way of "May I help you?"

Quote:
Originally Posted by laepelba View Post
I believe (Pablo or Irma, please correct me here if I'm wrong), that in the Spanish, it doesn't need the "can" or "will" part to be a request:
- (Por favor,) Di a Carlos que a él no se le dan los juegos.
In this case you are using the Imperative form and not "poder", which in English would be the same.

Will you tell Charles...

Please, tell Charles...
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old August 13, 2010, 12:55 PM
JPablo's Avatar
JPablo JPablo is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5,579
Native Language: Spanish (Castilian, peninsular)
JPablo is on a distinguished road
¿Podrías decirle a Carlos que a él no se le dan los juegos... y que no lo queremos en el equipo? (Yo no me atrevo, porque no quiero ofenderle.)

I just realize the example itself is a bit 'strained', but I added to it, so as to make it 'real'.

This version above is something like "Could you tell Carlos..."

In real life I probably would say... (well, in real life I would talk to Carlos directly, if I didn't want him playing with my team, and/or playing at all... but that does not go with my character... even if he was the worse player of all I would encourage him to play and get better...)
¿Por qué no le dices a Carlos que a él no se le dan los juegos... y que no lo queremos en el equipo? (Yo no me atrevo, para no ofenderle)

[Why don't you tell Carlos...]

Lo que yo diría...
Anda, dile a Carlos que se anime y que aprenda a jugar, que cuanto más juegue, más se divertirá y aunque no se le den los juegos... pronto aprenderá...
__________________
Lo propio de la verdad es que se basta a sí misma, aquel que la posee no intenta convencer a nadie.
"An enemy is somebody who flatters you. A friend is somebody who criticizes the living daylights out of you."
Reply With Quote
Reply

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Rueda del poder bobjenkins Vocabulary 12 February 27, 2010 02:26 AM
Poder irmamar Vocabulary 60 November 08, 2009 11:11 AM
El poder, por poder soyricogringo Translations 6 December 22, 2008 05:10 PM
Tengo el poder Michael Translations 3 October 23, 2008 08:28 AM
Sin poder dar con la salida - A little help? MonteChristo Translations 3 May 15, 2008 10:30 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:42 AM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

X