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possa

Posa is a form of the Portuguese verb poder, not a standalone word with a fixed meaning. Specifically, possa is the present subjunctive form used for the first and third person singular (eu possa, ele possa) in clauses that express doubt, possibility, wish, necessity, or hypothetical situations. It is commonly found in subordinate clauses introduced by verbs of thinking, wanting, fearing, or asserting uncertainty, such as “Espero que eu possa ir” (I hope that I can go) or “Pode ser que ele possa chegar mais tarde” (It may be that he can arrive later).

In addition to its use in the present subjunctive, possa shares its root with related forms of

Etymology traces possa to the Latin adjective and verb family for “to be able,” passing through the

See also: Portuguese verbs, poder, subjunctive mood, conjugation.

poder
across
the
conjugation:
posso
(present
indicative
first
person
singular),
podes
(you
can),
pode
(he/she
can),
podemos,
podem,
among
others.
The
stem
pôd-
in
other
tenses
and
moods
evolves
according
to
standard
Portuguese
conjugation
patterns.
The
form
possa
derives
from
the
Latin
posse
through
the
Romance
verb-system
development.
Old
and
Medieval
Portuguese
developments
that
produced
the
modern
present
subjunctive
endings.
It
remains
a
common
and
essential
element
of
everyday
Portuguese,
occurring
in
both
Brazilian
and
European
varieties,
with
usage
governed
by
the
same
subjunctive
rules.