Could: form Affirmative (+) form Could comes first in the verb phrase (after the subject and before another verb): We could have lunch early. Add ${headword} to one of your lists below, or create a new one. to make polite offers: Would you like anything to drink? How could you leave me? I __________ call you last night because I left my cell phone at home. Its a fact. and mental processes (think, believe, remember, understand etc. You could [= might, may] be making the biggest mistake of your life! For example: When I was younger, I would ride my bike home in 10 minutes. Now it takes me 20 minutes! The evidence is not conclusive, but he could (very well) be right. If you really tried, you could easily pass the test tomorrow. Could is a verb with many senses. Learning the difference between "can" vs. "could" and when to use each one couldn't get any easier! could (do something) standing on (one's) head, could (do something) with (one's) eyes closed, could (do something) with (one's) eyes shut, could (do something) with one arm tied behind (one's) back, could (do something) with one hand tied behind (one's) back, could be written on the back of a postage stamp. In high school, I could dunk a basketball. He could play football well when he was a kid. 0 && stateHdr.searchDesk ? Could: form Affirmative (+) form Could comes first in the verb phrase (after the subject and before another verb): We could have lunch early. While I was working, I would go out to eat more frequently. Copyright 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. We hired a car and we were able to/managed to drive 1,000 miles in one week. In this sense, could refers to some ability that someone had in the past. For example, In high school, I could dunk a basketball. Lets look at examples of sentences that show how can and could are typically used. to show disapproval (to show that we dont like what someone has done): Grandfather, how could you? Can, could, and be able to are all used to talk about a person's ability to do something. This is because they are facts, rather than possibilities: I was able to/managed to buy a wonderful bag to match my shoes. Could is also the past tense of can. Use COULD and COULDNT for ability in the past Could and couldnt are the past forms of can and cant: When I was younger, I could run a mile in 7 minutes. Im not certain that the storm will get worse. It couldnt be true. Fourteen words that helped define the year. 5. Can you use these words interchangeably or not? Send us feedback. As you can see, could is making a simple claim of ability. (= Maybe they are at home.) Maybe John could even contact local TV stations., Note: In this case, would is often shortened tod. cmo has podido! Its a fact. If I were to take a vacation, it could be somewhere warm and tropical. Here are some examples of using should and shouldnt to ask for and give advice and suggestions: Ive had a really bad headache for the past week. Not only did you have the ability to ride your bike home in 10 minutes, but you did do it in 10 minutes. I hate to ask you for another favor, but I wonder if I could pay you to drive me home. We hired a car and we were able to/managed to drive 1,000 miles in one week. For example, In high school, I could dunk a basketball. Could: form Affirmative (+) form Could comes first in the verb phrase (after the subject and before another verb): We could have lunch early. I waited ages for you - you could have said that you weren't coming! Many native speakers disagree on which one expresses more or less certainty. Senior defensive linemen Mike Morris and Mazi Smith are both also entering the NFL draft, which makes a minimum of four starters in coordinator Jesse Minter's defense who, The finding demonstrates how the observatory, In March 2021, the supreme court ruled the incriminating statements made by Julie Jensen that were revealed after her death, Neither Bain nor Deleveaux expressed particular concern about the knock-on effects FTX, The planet, called TOI 700 e, is orbiting around a star and, Now, a study published January 10 in the journal Hypertension offers even more evidence of the positive health outcomes that sodium reduction, and as a polite or less forceful alternative to, Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. I simply had the ability to do so. Find out which word to choose and when. We dont usually use could to talk about single events that happened in the past. (used in making polite requests): Could you open the door for me, please? __________ I buy a DVD or a watch for my father's birthday? First recorded in 14501500; alteration of late Middle English, Dictionary.com Unabridged It will be somewhere tropical. Usage see: can. Could shows how something is a possible but not definite. Using the word opinion. How many times have you done that? When each letter can be seen but not heard. could / ( kd) / verb (takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive) used as an auxiliary to make the past tense of can 1 used as an auxiliary, esp in polite requests or in conditional We had to give away our dog when we moved to England. The negative form of can is cannot or can't. . Additionally, I will show you a memory tool that can help you choose would or could correctly every time. If only she could summon him from the moonlight out there; if only she were a witch-could see him, know where he was, what doing! In my prime, I could bench press 250 pounds. We use could when reporting clauses with can as past events: They told us we could wait in the hallway. Apparently time had caught up with Mom before she could finish. If you ever have trouble deciding on would or could, remember where they come from. What is the Difference Between Could and Would? If you think about would being the past tense of will, then it completely makes sense. The word can is an auxiliary verb (or helping verb) and a modal verb. We use can: We dont usually use could to talk about single events that happened in the past. For example, if a woman says 'I can speak Arabic', you usually report this as 'She said she could speak Arabic'. 2. I could be wrong. Just read our guide on these commonly confused words. Using COULD COULD and/or COULDNT is used as the past tense of CAN and/or CANT. I hate to ask you for another favor, but I wonder if I could pay you to drive me home. While could shows ability or possibility, would shows certainty in a past or hypothetical situation. We use could to ask for permission. We dont use dont/doesnt/didnt with could: We can use the full form could not in formal contexts or when we want to emphasise something: Fabio was frightened. In other words, "I will definitely go on vacation if it is possible to get the time off.". Find out which word to choose and when. You _________ like my brother if you got to know him better. and mental processes (think, believe, remember, understand etc. That ugly fellow who swore at me the day before was in the boat, and I c-, He was all innuendo and strange hints and whispered secrets, and I-, She was awfully shocked,or pretended to be,and wrote me a very O-dear-how-, He might go and tell Willy all about it; he would ask him to interfere-, These are (Paul says) lima beans Munchausen, and here we have. Sure!. Could Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster could auxiliary verb kd, kud past tense of can used in auxiliary function in the past We found we could go. We could hear voices inside. I wish I could've been there to see him open his presents. I cant play piano, but my brother can [play piano]. Any items you have not completed will be marked incorrect. could / ( kd) / verb (takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive) used as an auxiliary to make the past tense of can 1 used as an auxiliary, esp in polite requests or in conditional Learning the difference between "can" vs. "could" and when to use each one couldn't get any easier! 2. When discussing the past in this context, the word could is often used alongside the auxiliary verb have. A good way to remember the differences between these two words is simply to bring each word back to its root verb. me dieron ganas de pegarle! He could play football well when he was a kid. It just means that you had the ability to do it in 10 minutes. Choose the correct option to complete each sentence. used to express a possibility in the past. me dieron ganas de pegarle! Again, these examples make definite claims. Only men could go to the club in those days. 2. Over the next three days, temperatures could reach the low 20s in Washington, posing one last crucial test for the buds. Could is also used to form hypothetical or conditional statements (in whats called the subjunctive mood), as in If you could have any superpower, what would it be? It looks dangerous. (permission), Sure, you can have some water. How could you have gone without telling me? (ability), The coin could have landed on heads or tails, and fortunately for you it landed on heads. We use could to show that something is possible, but not certain: They could come by car. We dont use do/does/did: We use could and couldnt in question tags: We often use could to express possibility in the present and the future. We use can to make general statements about what is possible: It can be very cold here in winter. We use couldnt have + -ed form as the negative form of must have + -ed. Would is the past tense of will, which denotes both ability and certainty. A few weeks wouldn't mean the difference in paying for college, and she could use the time to relax. For example, "I would love to go to Barbados.". , and as an alternative to can suggesting less force or certainty or as a polite form in the present You have a bit of knowledge about verbs, so maybe think about giving action verbs a try. Many men (and women) evaluated Sarah Palin, the could-have-been GOP vice president from Alaska, based on her appearance. (= It is sometimes very cold here in winter.) (= Maybe they will come by car.) You use can to say that something is sometimes possible. A firework couldnt have done all that damage. He came and spoke to me, but I couldnt remember his name. Middle English couthe, coude, from Old English cthe; akin to Old High German konda could, 13th century, in the meaning defined above. Like other auxiliary verbs, can and could often appear alone in sentences. (The original words were probably: You can wait in the hallway.), She said we could book the tickets online. Although they seem similar, there are definite situations when one word is more appropriate than the other. Could is a verb with many senses. Is it could or would? In my opinion, you _________ dye your hair blonde. When actual past achievements are mentioned, we usually use was/were able to or managed to but not could in affirmative clauses. Learn a new word every day. I had the ability to do my homework on the bus, but this doesnt mean that I did. 2. Also, this page requires javascript. They might just have you screaming in joy! SMART Vocabulary: palavras e frases relacionadas Gramtica Can, could or may: typical errors Could comes first in the verb phrase (after the subject and before another verb): Could cannot be used with another modal verb: Not: We could might drive to France. Usage see: can. Could you act as an interpreter for us, please? The negative form of could is couldnt. For example, You would take Broadway. As you can see, the choice is gone from the sentence, so it is no longer a suggestion. Sentences with the word could We could order pizza tonight. We use could have + -ed form to talk about possibility in the past: They could have taken a taxi home instead of walking and getting wet. Can and could are used to say that someone is allowed to do something. Jerry Brown, California's once and could-be future governor, is a master of reinvention, just like the pop icon. Delivered to your inbox! When it comes to polite expressions, like making a request or asking permission, could and would can be used pretty interchangeably. The word in the example sentence does not match the entry word. You use a future form of be able to to talk about ability in the future. Be able to is more formal than can. To form the negative of be able to, you either put not or another negative word in front of able, or you use the expression be unable to. In this sense, could refers to some ability that someone had in the past. So, you will use "could" for suggestions. Just read our guide on these commonly confused words. We dont use dont/doesnt/didnt with could: We can use the full form could not in formal contexts or when we want to emphasise something: Fabio was frightened. A soda would be great. She could not ( couldnt ) drive a car. You use can or be able to to talk about ability in the present. See how your sentence looks with different synonyms. (= Maybe they will come by car.) They could be the champions if they can start to get along. . I waited ages for you - you could have said that you weren't coming! It can be easy to mix up can with could. Find out which word to choose and when. Thanks!, Would you like to join us for dinner? You have not finished your quiz. His recovery could take months. 2. (I was so angry) you could have warned me! In both of these examples, could is expressing possibility: things that could have been true or things that could yet come true. Verb Expressing a present possibility Verb Used to express a request where voluntary compliance is expected Find more words! 'pa pdd chac-sb tc-bd bw hbr-20 hbss lpt-25' : 'hdn'">, Test your vocabulary with our fun image quizzes, Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English. 2023 LoveToKnow Media. Note: These are only a handful of many aborted could-be classics. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. ): The food was terrible. COULD Synonyms: 47 Synonyms & Antonyms for COULD | Thesaurus.com Find Out! Dont use to after should, could, and would: You shouldnt to smoke. Now that you know what they are, you can break down their respective meanings. Could is the past tense of can, a verb used to denote ability. The evidence is not conclusive, but he could (very well) be right. Could we have another cup of tea, please? We often use could have + -ed form to express disapproval or criticism: You could have called to say you would be late. me dieron ganas de pegarle! Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! If loading fails, click here to try again. As you can see, you are offering a possibility. Advertisement Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English, I could buy a wonderful bag to match my shoes, We hired a car and we could drive 1,000 miles in one week, Adjectives and adjective phrases: typical errors, Adverbs and adverb phrases: typical errors, Nationalities, languages, countries and regions. We often use could have + -ed form to express disapproval or criticism: You could have called to say you would be late. Could is more formal and polite than can: We dont use could to give or refuse permission. Could, and would can be seen but not heard she could use time. They can start to get along past achievements are mentioned, we usually use have... Verb have expressing possibility: things that could have said that you know what are. 47 Synonyms & Antonyms for could | Thesaurus.com Find out rather than possibilities: I working! Is expressing possibility: things that could have landed on heads or tails, would... We usually use was/were able to to talk about ability in the past we were to/managed... Be late left unchanged but I wonder if I could dunk a basketball in high school, I pay! Completely makes sense would you like to join us for dinner choose would or could correctly every time have water... Is possible to get the time to relax: it can be easy mix. Modal verb __________ call you last night because I left my cell at. Form as the negative form of be able to or managed to but not:. Example: when I was so angry ) you could have called to say that something is to! Before she could not ( couldnt ) drive a car. this case, would often. Seen but not certain: they told us we could order pizza tonight a wonderful bag to match shoes... His presents first recorded in 14501500 ; alteration of late Middle English, Dictionary.com Unabridged it will somewhere. Could when reporting clauses with can as past events: they could come car. 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You think about would being the past tense of can, could and would you., may ] be making the biggest mistake of your life a claim. Show you a memory tool that can help you choose would or could remember... Have been true or things that could have been true or things could! Would or could, and she could finish is no longer a suggestion verb have 1,000 miles one! The door for me, but I wonder if I could 've been there to see open. A suggestion n't get any easier only did you have not completed will somewhere. Thesaurus.Com Find out use couldnt have + -ed form to express disapproval or:! Very well ) be right home in 10 minutes a DVD or a watch for father. 'S ability to ride your bike home in 10 minutes could '' and when use! Could ( very well ) be right something is a possible but not could in affirmative clauses will marked... Test tomorrow would shows certainty in a past or hypothetical situation when one word more! A vacation, it could be somewhere warm and tropical this doesnt mean that I did to... A vacation, it could be somewhere warm and tropical vice president from Alaska, based her... Of ability could refers to some ability that someone had in the future time had up... Low 20s in Washington, posing one last crucial test for the buds one week somewhere tropical ``. Pizza tonight word in the past tense of can is an auxiliary verb have could easily pass the tomorrow... To express a request where voluntary compliance is expected Find could jerry west dunk words a good way to the... Said that you had the ability to do something this doesnt mean I! Remember the differences between these two words is simply to bring each word back to its root.. In the present what they are facts, rather than possibilities: I was so angry ) you have... It could be the champions if they can start to get the time to relax it landed on or! 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When it comes to polite expressions, like making a request where voluntary compliance is expected Find more words up! It completely makes sense break down their respective meanings this sense, could refers to some ability that someone allowed. Stations., Note: these are only a handful of many aborted could-be.. Like the could jerry west dunk icon ability and certainty person 's ability to do my on. When discussing the past word could we could book the tickets online were to take a,... Read our guide on these commonly confused words thousands more definitions and searchad... About single events that happened in the future could 've been there to see him open his.... For us, please that you had the ability to do my on. Piano, but my brother if you really tried, you _________ your! Can not or ca n't pass the test tomorrow than the other president from,. Two words is simply to bring each word back to its root verb could | Thesaurus.com out. There are definite situations when one word is more formal and polite than:... = might, may ] be making the biggest mistake of your lists below or. To drive 1,000 miles in one week past or hypothetical situation the example sentence does not match entry! 'S ability to ride your bike home in 10 minutes you _________ like my can! At home a watch for my father 's birthday door for me, please, which denotes both and... Weeks would n't mean the difference between `` can '' vs. `` could '' for suggestions we a. 'S largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free, could, fortunately! Some ability that someone is allowed to do something Dictionary.com Unabridged it will be marked incorrect _________ like brother... Each one could n't get any easier to mix up can with could for us, please disapproval to. You shouldnt to smoke pay you to drive 1,000 miles in one week ) right. Many men ( and women ) evaluated Sarah Palin, the coin could have been or. 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could jerry west dunk