No. 502 in French
pouvait
"Could" (third-person singular imperfect of "pouvoir").
In a sentence
Il pouvait arriver à l'heure, mais il a choisi de partir tard.
He could have arrived on time, but he chose to leave late.
In this sentence, 'pouvait' expresses a past capability or possibility, indicating what someone could have done under certain conditions.
Elle pouvait parler trois langues couramment quand elle était jeune.
She could speak three languages fluently when she was young.
Here, 'pouvait' describes a skill or ability in the past, showcasing someone's capabilities during a specific past time.
On pouvait voir les étoiles clairement ce soir-là.
One could see the stars clearly that night.
In this context, 'pouvait' conveys an observational possibility in the past, presenting what was observable in specific circumstances.
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