1. Lesson 42
Forms of “possum”

2. possum, posse, potui, ---- : can, be able
Possum is a form of “sum.”
Possum’s BFF is an infinitive.
I can swim = I am able to swim.
She can dance = she is able to dance.

3. possum possumus potes potestis potest possunt I can, am able
PRESENT TENSE
Singular
Plural
1st person
possum
I can, am able
possumus
We can, are able
2nd person
potes
You can, are able
potestis
Y’all can, are able
3rd person
potest
He/she/it can, is able
possunt
They can, are able

4. Present Tense Chart for “possum”
Singular
Plural
1st person
possum
I can, am able
possumus
We can, are able
2nd person
potes
You can, are able
potestis
Y’all can, are able
3rd person
potest
He/she/it can, is able
possunt
They can, are able
Present Tense Chart for “possum”

5. Time To Practice! Ambulare possum. I am able to walk./I can walk.
Potesne legere?
Are you able to read?/Can you read?
Puella dicere potest.
The girl is able to speak./The girl can speak.
Pugnare possumus.
We are able to fight./We can fight.

6. Imperfect Tense Chart for “possum”
Singular
Plural
1st person
poteram
I could, was able
poteramus
We could, were able
2nd person
poteras
You could, were able
poteratis
Y’all could, were able
3rd person
poterat
He/she/it could, was able
poterant
They could, were able
Imperfect Tense Chart for “possum”

7. Practice! Magister discipulos docere poterat.
The teacher was able to teach the students.

8. Future Tense Chart for “possum”
Singular
Plural
1st person
potero
I shall be able
poterimus
We will be able
2nd person
poteris
You will be able
poteritis
Y’all will be able
3rd person
poterit
He/she/it will be able
poterunt
They will be able
Future Tense Chart for “possum”

9. Practice! Agricola carrum trahere non poterit.
The farmer will not be able to drag the cart.
Femina liberos monere non poterit!
The woman will not be able to warn the children! 

10. PERFECT TENSE potui potuimus potuisti potuistis potuit potuerunt
Singular
Plural
1st person
potui
I was able, have been able
potuimus
We were able, have been able
2nd person
potuisti
You were able, have been able
potuistis
Y’all were able, have been able
3rd person
potuit
He/she/it was able, has been able
potuerunt
They were able, have been able

11. Pluperfect/Future Perfect
The pluperfect and future perfect tenses use the same stem, POTU-.
They use the regular pluperfect endings (-eram, -eras, etc., HAD BEEN ABLE…) and regular future perfect tendings (-ero, -eris, etc., WILL HAVE BEEN ABLE)

12. Practice! Populus ducem videre non potuit.
The populace was not able to see the general.
Cibum portare potuimus.
We have been able to carry the food.