...con quién poder compartirlo? why use poder and not podríamos?

Question

¿dónde estaríamos en este mundo si no tuviésemos un chocolatina y un buen amigo con quién poder compartirlo?

Why do you write poder here instead of podríamos?

Why is the infinitive used, no entiendo...

Una pregunta muy buena. Lo uso yo también, pero solamente porque lo he escuchado en las frases como ésta. :) I'm watching! - culé, Mar 25, 2011

Answer 1

I don't know of any grammar rule prohibiting "podríamos." It just sounds redundant because of the first part of the sentence already being in that tense. Also by using the infinitive "poder," the last part becomes a participle rather an additional sentence - again being less wordy.

Answer 2

delete-already answered

I think it depends on what you are trying to say:

...con quien poder compartirlo

...with whom to share it. (phrase...not a clause)

If you want to add a subject and make the phrase into a clause:

....con quien que podríamos compartirlo.

....with whom that we could share it.

Answer 3

In many cases when the subject doesn't change, only the first verb is conjugated to match the subject.

Answer 4

If you were to translate this question into english the last part would go something like "and a good friend with whom to share it with." Or a more literal translation would be "and a good friend to be able to share it with."
In both these instances, the verb is not conjugated.

• and a good friend with whom to share it with
• and a good friend to be able to share it with

I am looking at this from an english perspective, perhaps someone whose first language is spanish can offer a better or more correct explanation.

"with whom to share it" .... The last "with" is redundant and therefore not required - 005faa61, Mar 25, 2011

hm yes I see - dewclaw, Mar 25, 2011