Basic Possession and Ability | Learn Spanish in English

About This Lesson

Use Basic Possession and Ability to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Tengo este.

TEN-goh EH-steh I have this one.

No lo tengo.

noh loh TEN-goh I do not have it.

Puedo hacerlo.

PWEH-doh ah-SAIR-loh I can do it.

No puedo hacerlo.

noh PWEH-doh ah-SAIR-loh I cannot do it.

¿Puedes ayudarme?

PWEH-dehs ah-yoo-DAR-meh Can you help me?

¿Puedes hacer esto?

PWEH-dehs ah-SAIR EH-stoh Can you do this?

Word by Word

Tengo “Tengo” means “I have” in “Tengo este.” It is the first-person form of the verb tener, “to have,” and refers here to possessing or selecting an item. Use “Tengo” before the thing you have, such as the reusable pattern “Tengo + object.”

este “este” means “this one” in “Tengo este.” It identifies a nearby or already understood masculine item, and its form agrees with that item. Use “este” when choosing or pointing out one masculine item among options.

No “No” negates the statement “No lo tengo,” meaning “I do not have it.” It appears before the verb phrase to make the sentence negative. Use “No” at the start of a Spanish negative statement, such as “No + verb.”

lo “lo” means “it” in “No lo tengo,” referring to the item that is not possessed. It is placed before “tengo” as the object pronoun in this sentence. Use “lo” before a verb when referring to a masculine object or an understood thing.

Puedo “Puedo” means “I can” or “I am able to” in “Puedo hacerlo.” It is the first-person form of poder, “to be able to,” and introduces the action the speaker can perform. Use “Puedo” before an infinitive or an infinitive with an attached object pronoun.

hacerlo “hacerlo” means “do it” in “Puedo hacerlo.” It combines the verb hacer, “to do,” with “lo,” meaning “it,” attached to the end of the infinitive. Use it after “Puedo” when saying that you can do an understood task.

Puedes “Puedes” means “you can” or “you are able to” in the questions “¿Puedes ayudarme?” and “¿Puedes hacer esto?” It is the form of poder used to address one person. Use “Puedes” before an action when asking whether one person is able to do it.

ayudarme “ayudarme” means “help me” in “¿Puedes ayudarme?” It combines ayudar, “to help,” with “me,” meaning “me,” attached to the end of the infinitive. Use it after “Puedes” when asking one person for help.

hacer “hacer” means “do” in “¿Puedes hacer esto?” It is the infinitive used after “Puedes” to name the action being requested. Use “Puedes hacer + object?” when asking one person whether they can do something.

esto “esto” means “this” in “¿Puedes hacer esto?” and refers to the task or thing being indicated or understood. It is the object of “hacer” in this question. Use “esto” when referring to something near the speaker or currently being discussed.

Grammar Points

no + poder + infinitivo

No puedo hacerlo.

noh PWEH-doh ah-SAIR-loh

I can't do it.

Use no before the conjugated verb poder to make a negative sentence. The second verb stays in the infinitive.

poder + infinitivo + pronombre

¿Puedes ayudarme?

PWEH-dehs ah-yoo-DAR-meh

Can you help me?

After puedes, use the infinitive. The object pronoun me can attach directly to the end of ayudar.

Spanish Vocabulary

ayudar verb

ah-yoo-DAR to help ayudarme

¿Puedes ayudarme?

este pron

EH-steh this one

Tengo este.

esto pron

EH-stoh this

¿Puedes hacer esto?

hacer verb

ah-SAIR to do; to make hacerlo

Puedo hacerlo.

lo pron

loh it

No lo tengo.

no adv

noh not

No lo tengo.

poder verb

poh-DAIR can; to be able to puedo

Puedo hacerlo.

tener verb

teh-NAIR to have tengo

Tengo este.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I have this one.

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Tengo este.

I do not have it.

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No lo tengo.

I can do it.

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Puedo hacerlo.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to have

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tengo

to do; to make

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hacerlo

this one

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este

can; to be able to

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puedo