Usage Note
Puede is the third-person singular present of poder ('to be able to'). It is one of the most common modal constructions in Spanish: puede que (+ subjunctive) means 'it may be that', expressing possibility. Do not confuse it with puede as a standalone, which always comes from poder, never from poner.
Examples
"Puede que llegue tarde hoy."
Natural Translation
She may arrive late today.
Literal Translation
It-can-be that she-arrives late today.
Related Words
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