Quick answer
Saber + infinitive means knowing how; poder + infinitive means being able or allowed to do it now.
A reliable test is to identify the job of the word before translating from English.
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What each word does
saber
to know how
Use saber for a skill or procedure someone has learned.
poder
can or may
Use poder for present ability, possibility, or permission.
How to choose
- saber: Choose saber if the sentence points to a skill or procedure someone has learned.
- poder: Choose poder if the sentence points to present ability, possibility, or permission.
Examples
Eu sei nadar.
I know how to swim.
Hoje não posso nadar porque a piscina está fechada.
Today I cannot swim because the pool is closed.
Common trap
English “can” may hide the difference: Eu sei dirigir describes the skill, while eu posso dirigir describes ability or permission in the situation.
Practice it in context
Pick one sentence from your real life and write it twice: once with saber, then once with poder. If both versions feel possible, name the meaning shift.
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