Portuguese Phrase
O que as pessoas podem fazer?
Meaning
Literally, ‘What can people do?’ It asks about the possible actions or solutions that people are capable of performing in a given situation.
When to use
Use this question when you want to explore options, ask for suggestions, or discuss the abilities of a group of people. It works in both casual conversation and more formal discussions such as meetings or classroom debates.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Oqueaspessoaspodemfazer?
O que (What)
The interrogative phrase 'o que' is used to ask about things or actions, equivalent to English 'what'.
Definite article + noun (as pessoas)
The plural definite article 'as' agrees with the feminine plural noun 'pessoas' (people).
Modal verb poder (podem)
‘Podem’ is the third‑person plural present of ‘poder’, meaning ‘can’ or ‘are able to’.
Infinitive after poder (fazer)
When ‘poder’ is used to express ability, it is followed by an infinitive verb—in this case ‘fazer’ (to do).
Question mark placement
In Portuguese the question mark is placed only at the end of the sentence, unlike Spanish which uses opening and closing marks.
🗨In Conversation
O que as pessoas podem fazer para reduzir o lixo na cidade?
What can people do to reduce waste in the city?
Elas podem separar o reciclável, usar sacolas reutilizáveis e apoiar projetos de compostagem.
They can separate recyclables, use reusable bags, and support composting projects.
✕Common Mistakes
O que as pessoas podem fazem?
After ‘poder’, the verb must stay in the infinitive. ‘Podem fazem’ mixes a conjugated verb with an infinitive, which is incorrect.
O que as pessoas poderem fazer?
‘Poderem’ is the subjunctive form and does not fit a direct question about ability.
O que as pessoa podem fazer?
The noun ‘pessoa’ is feminine singular; the correct plural article is ‘as’ with ‘pessoas’.
↔Alternatives
O que as pessoas são capazes de fazer?
What are people capable of doing?
Que coisas as pessoas podem fazer?
What things can people do?
O que a gente pode fazer?
What can we do?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil and Portugal, the verb ‘poder’ is often preferred over ‘ser capaz de’ for everyday ability questions because it sounds more natural and less formal. However, in written or academic Portuguese you may encounter the longer form ‘ser capaz de’. Also, remember that the plural ‘as pessoas’ can be replaced by the informal collective ‘a gente’ (singular) when speaking with friends, which changes the verb conjugation to third‑person singular (pode).