Spanish Phrase
¿Qué pueden hacer las personas?
Meaning
The question asks about the possible actions or capabilities of people in general. It is often used when discussing social issues, problem‑solving, or brainstorming ideas about what humanity can achieve.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to explore options, responsibilities, or abilities of a group of people – for example in a classroom debate, a community meeting, or a casual conversation about global challenges.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quépuedenhacerlaspersonas
Qué (interrogative pronoun)
Used to ask about the nature or identity of something; always carries an accent in questions.
pueden (present of poder)
Third‑person plural present indicative of poder, meaning ‘can’ or ‘are able to’. It agrees with the plural subject ‘las personas’.
hacer (infinitive)
The infinitive form of the verb ‘to do / to make’; after poder we keep the verb in infinitive.
las (definite article)
Feminine plural article that matches the noun ‘personas’.
personas (noun)
Plural feminine noun meaning ‘people’; the subject of the sentence.
🗨In Conversation
¿Qué pueden hacer las personas para reducir el plástico en los océanos?
What can people do to reduce plastic in the oceans?
Podemos reciclar, usar bolsas reutilizables y apoyar leyes que limiten los desechos.
We can recycle, use reusable bags, and support laws that limit waste.
✕Common Mistakes
Que pueden hacer las personas?
Missing the accent on ‘Qué’; without it the sentence is not recognized as a question.
¿Qué pueden hacen las personas?
Do not conjugate ‘hacer’; after ‘poder’ the second verb stays in infinitive.
¿Qué pueden hacer personas?
If you use ‘personas’ as a generic group, the article ‘las’ is required; dropping it sounds incomplete.
↔Alternatives
¿Qué pueden hacer los seres humanos?
What can human beings do?
¿Qué acciones pueden tomar las personas?
What actions can people take?
¿De qué manera pueden ayudar las personas?
In what ways can people help?
Cultural Tip
In Spanish‑speaking cultures, it’s common to frame collective responsibility with this structure. The phrase is neutral in register, so it works both in formal settings (e.g., a conference) and informal chats. Remember to keep the accent on ‘qué’; omitting it changes the meaning to ‘what’ as a statement rather than a question.