We can go there… but some other time
Fluencia.com, an online Spanish learning application, (Level 2 > Unit 5 ) starts of with a sample conversation between a couple that is just meeting for the first time on a blind date.
The man says about a restaurant he likes:
"Podemos ir a comer la semana que viene."
which the application itself (not a translator) explicitly translates to:
"We can go eat there next week".
I don't know why the verbs used in this sentence do not take on the future verb form conjugation(s). The verbs used are:
1) "Podemos" (We can) 2) ir (to go)
Why not use "podremos"? If I were on that blind date, I might attempt this same statement as:
"Podremos ir a comer en el proximo semana."
Come to think of it, I do not recall the future verb form used in any of the Spanish I have seen in the last 8 months of (almost) daily study. Why not the future verb form here when they will be performing some action in the future?
5 Answers
En español usamos el presente cuando el énfasis es el hecho (y no el tiempo), aunque se refiera a una acción futura.
Podemos salir juntos algún día.
Podemos comer juntos mañana.
Por otro lado, cuando el énfasis es el tiempo (y no el hecho), o cuando el hecho está directamente relacionado con una acción futura, generalmente usamos el tiempo futuro.
Podremos salir juntos, pero ahora es imposible.
Saldremos juntos cuando yo esté completamente listo.
In Spanish we use the present tense when the emphasis is on the fact and not the timing, even if the action is oriented towards the future.
(Examples above)
On the other hand, when the time is essential to convey what you want, the sentence will generally be conjugated in the future tense.
(Examples above)
I hope it helps.
Podemos ir a comer etc Is a word for word translation from the English.
You didn't say "we will be able" to go, you just said we "can" "Podemos" is "we can."
Besides that we use the present tense a lot where English speakers use the future.
"I'll see you tomorrow." The equivalent Spanish expression is "Nos vemos mañana."
or "We see each other tomorrow." I could give a hundred more examples, but I have o get back to class.--students waiting.
There is a little nuance that I suppose it would work the same in English but I'm not sure at all.
Podemos ir a comer allí mañana, si quieres.
Podríamos ir a comer ..................
We can go eat there Tomorrow, if you want.
A Maria le encanta ese restaurante podemos ir a comer allí cuando venga
A Maria le encanta ese restaurante podríamos. .........
Mary loves that restaurant we can go eat there when she come.
It's just expressing a proposition.
Podremos ir a comer mañana si consigo dinero.
Podríamos ir a comer mañana si consiguiese dinero
Si viene Maria podremos ir a comer a ese restaurante que tanto te gusta
Sí viniese Maria podríamos ir a comer a .....
We will can go eat Tomorrow there if I get money.
If Mary comes. We will can go eat this restaurant which so please you
It's a condition.at this moment I have not money so I can't. Mary has not arrived so we can't .
"Podemos ir a comer la semana que viene."
"Podremos ir a comer la semana que viene."
The first example to me sounds more natural, although the second doesn't seem incorrect.
In English I would say, "We can go.....", and be eager about it. "We will be able to go....." just sounds awkward in English unless something is added: "We will be able to go unless you have something else planned." But, even in that case, "We can go" still is the better , in my opinion.
My first language is Midwestern American English.
This is something you may want to ask them at Fluencia. Below is their e-mail address.
