Basic permission questions | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: A beginner practices six useful English phrases about basic permission questions..

EN → ES / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Basic permission questions to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

¿Puedo usar esto?

PWEH-doh oo-SAR ES-toh Can I use this?
B

¿Puedo sentarme aquí?

PWEH-doh sen-TAR-meh ah-KEE Can I sit here?
A

¿Puedo entrar?

PWEH-doh en-TRAR Can I come in?
B

¿Puedo verlo?

PWEH-doh BEHR-loh Can I see it?
A

¿Puedo probarlo?

PWEH-doh proh-BAR-loh Can I try it?
B

¿Puedo tener esto?

PWEH-doh teh-NEHR ES-toh Can I have this?

Word by Word

Puedo In ¿Puedo usar esto? and the other questions, Puedo means “can I” when asking for permission. It is a form of poder. Use it before an infinitive when asking whether you may do something, such as use, sit, enter, see, try, or have something.
usar In ¿Puedo usar esto?, usar means “to use.” It follows Puedo as the action for which permission is requested and is followed by the object esto. Use it when asking permission to use an object or resource.
esto In ¿Puedo usar esto? and ¿Puedo tener esto?, esto means “this” and refers to the thing being used or had. It comes after the verb as the object. Use esto when pointing to or identifying a thing in the current situation.
sentarme In ¿Puedo sentarme aquí?, sentarme means “sit down” or “sit” for the speaker. The form includes me, showing that the speaker is the person who will sit. Use it after Puedo when asking permission to sit in a particular place, such as a chair.
aquí In ¿Puedo sentarme aquí?, aquí means “here,” the place where the speaker wants to sit. It comes after the action to specify the location. Use aquí when indicating the place where you are or the place you are pointing to.
entrar In ¿Puedo entrar?, entrar means “enter” or “come in.” It follows Puedo as the action for which the speaker is asking permission. Use it when asking whether you may go through a doorway or enter a room.
verlo In ¿Puedo verlo?, verlo means “see it.” The form combines ver, “to see,” with lo, which identifies the thing to be seen. Use it after Puedo when asking permission to look at or see something that is already understood in the situation.
probarlo In ¿Puedo probarlo?, probarlo means “try it.” The form combines probar, “to try,” with lo, which identifies the thing being tried. Use it after Puedo when asking permission to test or try an item.
tener In ¿Puedo tener esto?, tener means “have.” It follows Puedo and takes esto as the thing the speaker wants to have. Use it when asking whether you may receive, keep, or take something in the current situation.

Grammar Points

poder + infinitivo

Puedo usar esto.

PWEH-doh oo-SAR ES-toh

I can use this.

Use puedo followed by an infinitive to express ability or permission: “I can…”

Pronombre unido al infinitivo

Puedo probarlo.

PWEH-doh proh-BAR-loh

I can try it.

Object pronouns such as lo attach to an infinitive: probar + lo = probarlo.

Spanish Vocabulary

aquí adv
ah-KEE here

¿Puedo sentarme aquí?

entrar verb
en-TRAR to come in; to enter

¿Puedo entrar?

esto pron
ES-toh this

¿Puedo usar esto?

probarlo verb
proh-BAR-loh to try it

¿Puedo probarlo?

puedo verb
PWEH-doh can; am able to

¿Puedo usar esto?

sentarme verb
sen-TAR-meh to sit down

¿Puedo sentarme aquí?

tener verb
teh-NEHR to have

¿Puedo tener esto?

usar verb
oo-SAR to use

¿Puedo usar esto?

verlo verb
BEHR-loh to see it

¿Puedo verlo?

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Can I use this?

Show Answer¿Puedo usar esto?

Can I sit here?

Show Answer¿Puedo sentarme aquí?

Can I come in?

Show Answer¿Puedo entrar?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to use

Show Answerusar

can; am able to

Show Answerpuedo

to sit down

Show Answersentarme

to see it

Show Answerverlo