Pouvoir is a french third group verb. So, this verb is irregular and do not follow a regular conjugation pattern like first or second group verbs. Follow this link to see all the endings of the conjugation of most of the third group verbs :
conjugation rules and endings for the second group verbs.
Pouvoir verb has two forms in present indicative :
« Je peux » and
« Je puis ». In interrogative form, only the second is used:
« Puis-je ? ».
Pouvoir verb does not exist in imperative form. Instead subjunctive is used:
« Puisses-tu »,
« Puissions-nous »,
« Puissiez-vous ».
Pouvoir verb is conjugated in female form and in reflexive form. Be careful, the past participle of compound tenses must agree with the subject.
Pouvoir verb is conjugated in negative form. The placement of the negative adverb follow the following rules:
- the adverb
« ne » is placed after the pronoun and before the verb.
- in simple tenses, the adverbs (
« ne ...pas »,
« ne...plus »,
« ne...jamais », etc...) surround the verb
pouvoir.
- in compound tenses or in passive voice, the negative adverbs surround the auxiliary.