¿Puedes ir?
The English phrase "can you go?" is translated into Spanish as ¿Puedes ir?
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the conjugated verb poder (to be able to) and the infinitive ir (to go).
Which one should you use?
In Spanish, the question is formed by using rising intonation or question marks, but the word order remains the same as the statement Puedes ir (You can go).
How does it change in a sentence?
The form ¿Puedes ir? uses the informal tú conjugation of the verb poder (to be able to/can), while the form ¿Puede ir? uses the formal usted conjugation of the verb poder.
Did you know?
- The verb ir is so irregular that its different tenses are built from three entirely different Latin roots: 'īre', 'vādere' and 'esse'.
- Using the formal ¿Puede ir? with a child or a close peer can be interpreted as an intentional act of emotional distancing or coldness.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, the command to 'go' is andá, which actually comes from the verb andar meaning 'to walk' rather than ir.
Examples in context
- Entiendo que puede estar ocupado, pero ¿puede usted ir a la reunión mañana?I understand you may be busy, but can you go to the meeting tomorrow?
- Ana, ¿te puedes ir conmigo a la fiesta de cumpleaños de Marcos?Ana, can you go with me to Marcos's birthday party?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
