These patterns answer different questions about an action: knowing how to do it and being able or allowed to do it now.

The idea

Use saber to say someone knows how to perform a learned skill; use poder to express ability, possibility or permission in context.

Examples

  • Sé nadar, pero hoy no puedo entrar en la piscina.I know how to swim, but today I cannot enter the pool.
  • ¿Sabes conducir?Do you know how to drive?
  • Hoy no puedo conducir porque estoy cansada.Today I cannot drive because I am tired. (female speaker)
  • Podemos entrar ahora.We can enter now.
  • Mi hermana sabe reparar bicicletas.My sister knows how to repair bicycles.
  • No puedo abrir la puerta; está cerrada con llave.I cannot open the door; it is locked.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Spanish voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

The meanings can overlap in real use; identify whether you want to emphasize knowledge of the skill or current circumstances.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the verb emphasizing knowledge of swimming. Yo ___ nadar. (sé / puedo)

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    sé

    Sé emphasizes that the speaker knows how to swim.

  2. Choose the verb emphasizing current permission to enter. Ahora ___ entrar. (puedo / sé)

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    puedo

    Puedo emphasizes present possibility or permission to enter.

  3. Choose the verb emphasizing a learned repair skill. Mi hermana ___ reparar bicicletas. (sabe / puede)

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    sabe

    Sabe emphasizes the sister’s learned repair skill.

Use it today

Describe a skill you know and a situation in which you can or cannot use it.