Introduction
One of the most common mistakes Spanish learners make when forming polite requests or expressing possibility is using the phrase sería posible de. While this construction might seem logical to English speakers, it is grammatically incorrect in Spanish. Understanding why this structure fails and what the correct alternatives are is essential for anyone serious about mastering Spanish grammar. This article explores the proper way to express requests and possibilities in Spanish, examining the correct constructions that native speakers actually use and explaining the underlying grammatical rules that make sería posible de fundamentally wrong.
Understanding the Incorrect Structure
Why “Sería posible de” Doesn’t Work
The phrase sería posible de is incorrect because it combines two grammatical problems into one awkward construction. The first issue involves the use of the preposition de after posible, which is not standard Spanish. The second problem relates to how Spanish actually forms polite requests and expressions of possibility. When English speakers try to translate phrases like could it be possible to or would it be possible to into Spanish, they often fall into the trap of creating sería posible de, but this simply does not align with how Spanish works.
The core issue is that posible in Spanish does not take the preposition de when followed by an infinitive verb. This is a fundamental rule of Spanish grammar that differs from how some other Romance languages structure similar phrases. Native Spanish speakers would never say sería posible de hacer or es posible de llegar. These constructions sound unnatural and incorrect to anyone who speaks Spanish natively.
The Problem with Preposition Usage
Spanish prepositions are notoriously difficult for learners because they often do not correspond directly to English prepositions. The preposition de has many uses in Spanish, but connecting posible to an infinitive verb is not one of them. This is where many students go wrong. They reason that because English uses to after possible (as in possible to do), Spanish might use a similar structure with de. However, this reasoning leads to a dead end.
The preposition de is used in Spanish for possession, origin, material composition, and many other purposes, but it is not the connector between posible and an infinitive. Understanding this distinction is crucial for anyone learning Spanish at an intermediate level.
The Correct Alternatives
Using “Ser Posible” Plus Infinitive Without a Preposition
The most straightforward and correct way to express possibility in Spanish is to use ser posible directly followed by an infinitive verb with no preposition in between. This construction is clean, natural, and exactly how native speakers express this concept. Here are some examples:
Es posible llegar a tiempo.
(It is possible to arrive on time.)
Será posible encontrar un hotel en el centro.
(It will be possible to find a hotel in the center.)
Sería posible cambiar la fecha de la reunión.
(It would be possible to change the date of the meeting.)
Notice that in each of these examples, the infinitive verb follows directly after posible with no preposition between them. This is the standard and correct construction. The verb ser conjugates according to the tense and mood needed, but the structure remains the same: ser posible plus infinitive.
Making Polite Requests with “¿Sería posible…?”
When you want to make a polite request in Spanish, using the conditional form of ser combined with posible is very common and appropriate. This construction is more formal and courteous than direct commands:
¿Sería posible hablar con el gerente?
(Would it be possible to speak with the manager?)
¿Sería posible reservar una mesa para dos personas?
(Would it be possible to reserve a table for two people?)
¿Sería posible enviar esta carta por correo express?
(Would it be possible to send this letter by express mail?)
These constructions are not only correct but also perfectly natural in Spanish business contexts, customer service interactions, and everyday polite conversation. The conditional tense softens the request, making it more deferential and less demanding.
Alternative Constructions for Expressing Possibility and Requests
Using “¿Podrías…?” and “¿Podría…?”
Another very common and natural way to make polite requests in Spanish is to use the conditional form of poder directly. This is perhaps even more common in everyday speech than sería posible:
¿Podrías ayudarme con esto?
(Could you help me with this?)
¿Podría usted decirme dónde está la estación?
(Could you tell me where the station is?)
¿Podrían ustedes venir mañana?
(Could you all come tomorrow?)
The conditional form of poder is perhaps the most natural way native speakers ask for things in Spanish. It is more direct than sería posible but still very polite and widely accepted in all contexts.
Using “Es Posible Que” with the Subjunctive
When expressing possibility with some degree of doubt or uncertainty, Spanish often employs the construction es posible que followed by a verb in the subjunctive mood:
Es posible que llueva mañana.
(It is possible that it may rain tomorrow.)
Es posible que no tengan entradas disponibles.
(It is possible that they may not have available tickets.)
Es posible que podamos vernos el próximo fin de semana.
(It is possible that we might be able to see each other next weekend.)
This construction is slightly different because it expresses uncertainty and typically introduces a dependent clause. The subjunctive mood is required after es posible que because the speaker is expressing possibility rather than certainty.
Using “¿Te importaría…?” for Polite Requests
Another excellent way to make very polite requests in Spanish is to use the conditional form of importar:
¿Te importaría cerrar la ventana?
(Would you mind closing the window?)
¿Le importaría esperar un momento?
(Would you mind waiting a moment?)
This construction is slightly more indirect and therefore more polite than simply asking if something is possible.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Confusing “De” with Other Prepositions
Learners sometimes make mistakes by using other prepositions after posible. While de is the most common mistake, some students might also try constructions like sería posible para hacer or sería posible a llegar. None of these work. The only correct structure is ser posible plus an infinitive with no preposition.
Mixing Up Mood and Tense
Another common error occurs when learners confuse when to use the indicative versus the subjunctive. As mentioned earlier, es posible que requires the subjunctive, but ser posible followed by an infinitive uses the infinitive form, not the subjunctive. These are two different structures with different grammatical requirements:
Correct: Es posible llegar a tiempo. (Infinitive)
Correct: Es posible que llegues a tiempo. (Subjunctive)
Incorrect: Es posible de llegar a tiempo. (The preposition is wrong)
Practice Exercises for Mastery
Rewriting Incorrect Sentences
Take these incorrect sentences and rewrite them correctly:
Sería posible de llamar al servicio de atención al cliente?
(Correct: ¿Sería posible llamar al servicio de atención al cliente?)
Es posible de entender esta lección?
(Correct: ¿Es posible entender esta lección?)
Sería posible de viajar a España el próximo verano?
(Correct: ¿Sería posible viajar a España el próximo verano?)
Creating Your Own Sentences
Try creating polite requests using each of the correct structures mentioned in this article. Practice using ¿sería posible…?, ¿podrías…?, ¿podría…?, and other alternatives until they become natural to you.
Cultural and Regional Notes
The constructions discussed in this article are standard across all Spanish-speaking regions. While there are certainly dialectal differences in Spanish, the basic rules about how to express possibility and make polite requests remain consistent from Spain to Mexico to Argentina and beyond. Native speakers in any Spanish-speaking country will recognize sería posible followed by an infinitive as correct, and they will find sería posible de incorrect and awkward.
In some regions, you might hear ¿podrías…? used more frequently than ¿sería posible…?, but both are correct and widely understood everywhere Spanish is spoken.
Conclusion
The phrase sería posible de is incorrect in Spanish because the preposition de does not belong between posible and an infinitive verb. The correct construction is ser posible followed directly by an infinitive with no preposition. This article has provided you with multiple correct alternatives including ¿sería posible…?, ¿podrías…?, ¿podría…?, and es posible que plus subjunctive. By understanding why sería posible de is wrong and practicing the correct structures, you will sound more natural and authentic when speaking Spanish. Remember that preposition usage is one of the trickiest aspects of Spanish grammar, but with consistent practice and attention to detail, you can master these essential constructions and avoid this common mistake in your Spanish communication.
