Lesson 42

Forms of “possum”

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.

PRESENT TENSE Singular Plural

1st person possumI can, am able

possumusWe can, are able

2nd person potesYou can, are able

potestisY’all can, are able

3rd person potestHe/she/it can, is able

possuntThey can, are able

PRESENT TENSE

Singular Plural

1st person possumI can, am able

possumusWe can, are able

2nd person potesYou can, are able

potestisY’all can, are able

3rd person potestHe/she/it can, is able

possuntThey can, are able

Present Tense Chart for “possum”

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.

IMPERFECT TENSE

Singular Plural

1st person poteramI could, was able

poteramusWe could, were able

2nd person poterasYou could, were able

poteratisY’all could, were able

3rd person poteratHe/she/it could, was able

poterantThey could, were able

Imperfect Tense Chart for “possum”

Practice!

• Magister discipulos docere poterat.• The teacher was able to teach the students.

FUTURE TENSE Singular Plural

1st person poteroI shall be able

poterimusWe will be able

2nd person poterisYou will be able

poteritisY’all will be able

3rd person poteritHe/she/it will be able

poteruntThey will be able

Future Tense Chart for “possum”

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!

PERFECT TENSE

Singular Plural

1st person potuiI was able, have been able

potuimusWe were able, have been able

2nd person potuistiYou were able, have been able

potuistisY’all were able, have been able

3rd person potuitHe/she/it was able, has been able

potueruntThey were able, have been able

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)

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.