State the constraint and its effect before proposing a workable next step.

The idea

Use podría to offer an alternative and explain which deadline, scope or resource would make it possible.

Examples

  • Con la carga actual, no puedo terminar el informe para mañana.With my current workload, I cannot finish the report by tomorrow.
  • Podría entregar un primer borrador el jueves y la versión final el lunes.I could deliver a first draft on Thursday and the final version on Monday.
  • Si este pedido es prioritario, tendremos que aplazar otra tarea.If this request is a priority, we will have to postpone another task.
  • El equipo no dispone de horas suficientes para incluir todas las funciones.The team does not have enough hours to include all the features.
  • ¿Les parece viable reducir el alcance y publicar primero lo esencial?Would it be feasible to reduce the scope and release the essentials first?
  • Para mantener la calidad, necesitaríamos una semana más o apoyo adicional.To maintain quality, we would need another week or additional support.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Spanish voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

Do not promise a deadline you cannot meet merely to sound cooperative; name the trade-off explicitly.

Try it yourself

  1. Say you cannot take on another task with this workload. Con esta carga, no ___ asumir otra tarea. (puedo / debo)

    Show answer or example answer

    puedo

    Puedo states the limit on taking another task.

  2. Suggest an alternative date. ___ entregar el informe el viernes. (Podría / Debía)

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    Podría

    Podría presents Friday as a possible delivery date.

  3. Say that a project must be postponed. Tendremos que ___ el proyecto. (aplazar / acelerar)

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    aplazar

    Aplazar means moving the project to a later time.

Use it today

Complete the sentences about capacity, an alternative date and postponement.