¿puedo ir?
The English phrase "can I go" is translated into Spanish as ¿puedo ir?
This phrase is used to request permission to leave a place or go to a destination. While it can be a direct request for permission, it is often used in Spanish to ask if one is physically able to go or if it is permitted to go to a specific place.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb poder (to be able to/can) in the first-person singular present tense, and the infinitive ir (to go).
Which one should you use?
¿Puedo ir? is a direct request for permission, whereas ¿Me puedo ir? is an informal way to inquire whether you have permission to leave.
How does it change in a sentence?
To change the subject from "I" to "he", "she" or "you" (formal), change the conjugation from puedo to puede, resulting in ¿Puede ir? (Can he/she/you formal go?). Additionally, adding the reflexive pronoun me to the verb ir to form irme shifts the focus from the act of traveling to the act of departing or leaving a location, as seen in ¿Puedo irme? (Can I leave?).
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Profesor, ¿puedo irme?Teacher, can I go?
- Mamá, ¿me puedo ir?Mom, can I go?
- Señor, ¿sería posible que me fuera?Sir, would it be possible for me to go?
- Amigo, ¿puedo salir ahora?Friend, can I go now?
- ¿Puedo ir al baño?Can I go to the bathroom?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
