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You must stop when the traffic lights turn red; He must be very tired. Hes been working all
day long.
An example of could is saying that something is able to happen if someone does something.
could
pt. of can: he gave what he could give
used as a modal auxiliary in verbal phrases with present or future time reference, generally equivalent
to can in meaning and use, with the following functions:
expressing or suggesting politely less certainty than can: could you wait?
Origin of could
altered (infl. by would, should) from Middle English coud from Old English cuthe (akin to Gothic kuntha,
Old High German konda, Old Norse kunna), past tense of cunnan, to be able: see can
Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to
learn how "could" behaves in different contexts.
1. John could be the one who stole 1. Mary couldn't be the one who
the money. stole the money.
could 2. John could have been the one who 2. Mary couldn't have been the one might,
possibility stole the money. who stole the money. may
1. NO PRESENT FORM
could I could run ten miles in my twenties. I couldn't run more than a mile in my be able
past ability
twenties.
I could speak Chinese when I was a
kid. I couldn't speak Swahili.
Yesterday, I could lift the couch by Yesterday, I couldn't lift the couch by
myself. Not Correct myself. Correct
Examples:
Jack might not have the key. Maybe he does not have the key.
Jack could not have the key. It is impossible that he has the key.
"Could" is used to express possibility or past ability as well as to make suggestions and requests. "Could"
is also commonly used in conditional sentences as the conditional form of "can."
Examples:
Extreme rain could cause the river to flood the city. possibility
Nancy could ski like a pro by the age of 11. past ability
could
2. John could have been the one who stole the money
2. Mary couldn't have been the one who stole the money.
might,may,could,conditional
2. If I had had more time, I could have traveled around the world.
3. If I had more time this winter, I could travel around the world.
2. Even if I had had more time, I couldn't have traveled around the world.
3. Even if I had more time this winter, I couldn't travel around the world.
could
suggestion 1. NO PRESENT FORM
NO NEGATIVE FORMS
could
"Could" cannot be used in positive sentences in which you describe a momentary or one-time ability.
"Could" can be used in negative sentences in which you describe a momentary or one-time ability.
be able to.could
can,may,might
"Could not" suggests that it is impossible for something to happen. "Might not" suggests you do not
know if something happens.
Examples:
Jack might not have the key. Maybe he does not have the key.
Jack could not have the key. It is impossible that he has the key.
Adverbials of probability
We use adverbials of probability to show how certain we are about something. The most frequent
adverbials of probability are: