Find out which word to choose and when. You could at least have called me. If you leave this page, your progress will be lost. Need synonyms for could? When used this way, could is used to express conditional or hypothetical ability or possibility even when talking about the present or the future. Apparently time had caught up with Mom before she could finish. In this sense, could refers to some ability that someone had in the past. As you can see, you are offering a possibility. The word can is an auxiliary verb (or helping verb) and a modal verb. We use can to make general statements about what is possible: It can be very cold here in winter. Advertisement We use could, may and might to express degrees of possibility. Could and would are two such verbs. The evidence is not conclusive, but he could (very well) be right. Advertisement ( Ability in the Past) Examples: I could speak four languages when I was younger. They could be at home. Could is a verb with many senses. Could. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/could. Can vs. Could: Whats The Difference? When discussing the past in this context, the word could is often used alongside the auxiliary verb have. Using the word opinion. The past tense of the verb will is would and the past tense of the verb shall is should. (used to express possibility): That could never be true. (used in making polite requests): Could you open the door for me, please? In the case of permission, could is typically only used when asking permission, not giving it. (permission). Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English. I wish I could've been there to see him open his presents. 10. and We had to give away our dog when we moved to England. If you really tried, you could easily pass the test tomorrow. We knew they were in there. That ugly fellow who swore at me the day before was in the boat, and I c-could understand him. SMART Vocabulary: palavras e frases relacionadas Gramtica Can, could or may: typical errors Grammatically, though, either one is completely acceptable. If you want to say that someone did not do something because they did not have the ability to do it, you say that they could not have done it. An old-fashioned rule we can no longer put up with. The difference between could and would are presented in the points given below: Could is the past tense form of the verb can which indicates a past ability of someone or possibility of an action or happening. English is full of verbs that seem interchangeable or at least only trivially different, but skilled writers know when and how to use them for maximum clarity. Click on the arrows to change the translation direction. Not: I could buy a wonderful bag to match my shoes. Could is also used to talk about ability in the present, but it has a special meaning. 4. We use can: We dont usually use could to talk about single events that happened in the past. The negative form of could is couldnt. Apparently time had caught up with Mom before she could finish. Malinger More With This Word Of The Day Quiz! Can expresses strong possibility: The word in the example sentence does not match the entry word. 2. a used to say that something is possible. Couldnt and couldnt have + -ed form express strong possibility: She must have made a mistake. For example, if a woman says 'I can speak Arabic', you usually report this as 'She said she could speak Arabic'. For example, you could say: However, there are a few instances of polite expression where you only use would or could. Learn why. How to use a word that (literally) drives some pe Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference. Wellbeing or Well-Being Which is Correct? 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. I wonder who that could be at the door. It couldnt be true. Like other auxiliary verbs, can and could often appear alone in sentences. . 8. (ability), The coin could have landed on heads or tails, and fortunately for you it landed on heads. In my prime, I could bench press 250 pounds. could've contraction: colloquial, abbreviation (could have) potere v : I could've been someone, you know. We use could to refer to single events that happened in the past, with verbs of the senses (smell, taste, see, hear, touch, etc.) Find out which word to choose and when. As you can see, could is simply making a statement of ability. A few weeks wouldn't mean the difference in paying for college, and she could use the time to relax. Cannot is never written 'can not'. Case in Point or Case and Point Whats the Difference? What should I do? 2. We use can to make general statements about what is possible: It can be very cold here in winter. I waited ages for you - you (used in making polite requests): Could you open the door for me, please? Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright 2013 by the Philip Lief Group. See how your sentence looks with different synonyms. The subject and could change position to form questions. We dont usually use could to talk about single events that happened in the past. (= Maybe they will come by car.) If you want to say that someone had the ability to do something but did not in fact do it, you say that they could have done it. The negative form of can is cannot or can't. They could be the champions if they can start to get along. They could be at home. 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? The difference between could and would are presented in the points given below: Could is the past tense form of the verb can which indicates a past ability of someone or possibility of an action or happening. Usage see: can. Could I have a map of the subway, please? You _________ like my brother if you got to know him better. We use could to show that something is possible, but not certain: They could come by car. For example: When I was younger, I could ride my bike home in 10 minutes. Hmm I think you should call her and tell her youre sorry.. In other words, "I will definitely go on vacation if it is possible to get the time off.". For more on condition sentences, see here. Here's a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead. Using the word opinion. It couldnt be true. or We might could drive to France. Maybe John could even contact local TV stations., Note: In this case, would is often shortened tod. A few weeks wouldn't mean the difference in paying for college, and she could use the time to relax. (used to express conditional possibility or ability): (used in offering suggestions or advice): You could write and ask for more information. In both of these examples, could is expressing possibility: things that could have been true or things that could yet come true. Yesterday, I couldnt find my wallet anywhere but this morning I found it. It just means that you had the ability to do it in 10 minutes. I could swim well at that age a esa edad nadaba muy bien ; I could hear them talking los oa hablar ; I could have tried harder poda haberme esforzado ms ; he couldn't have been kinder fue de lo ms amable ; how COULD you! Just read our guide on these commonly confused words. Improve your vocabulary with English Vocabulary in Use from Cambridge.Learn the words you need to communicate with confidence. While they're clearly different, their usage in a sentence isn't always as clear. 2. Choose the correct option to complete each sentence. 3. Would doesnt leave any question or possibility. (= Maybe they will come by car.) You could have gone to the park with your friends if you had finished your homework on time. For example, In high school, I could dunk a basketball. Learn a new word every day. The verb can is an auxiliary (helping) verb that is often used alongside other verbs to express ability, possibility, or permission (in the case of permission, could is often considered more polite than can, but they are grammatically interchangeable in this context). Related Words and Phrases See Also What is the opposite of could? Being lost is bad, but it could be worsewe could still be in the woods. In high school, I could do my homework on the bus. Yesterday, I couldnt find my wallet anywhere but this morning I found it. Feeling confident about how much youve learned about these verbs? He could play football well when he was a kid. When I was in high school, I could do my homework on the bus. 1. I wish I could've been there to see him open his presents. could modal verb (SHOULD) used for saying, especially angrily, what you think someone else should do: Well, you could try to look a little more enthusiastic! I waited ages for you - you 2. 10. We use could have + -ed form to talk about things that did not happen and sometimes to expresses regret: We often use the expression how could you/she/he/they? The negative form of could is couldnt. If I were to take a vacation, it could be somewhere warm and tropical. You use can or be able to to talk about ability in the present. 'pa pdd chac-sb tc-bd bw hbr-20 hbss lpt-25' : 'hdn'">, pasado simple de "can", se usa para expresar lo que alguien saba o poda hacer, forma ms corts que "can" de pedir permiso, passado de "can", forma educada de "can" quando usado para pedir algo, poderia, can , can , , can' fiilinin gemi zaman hali, bir eyin olma olasln anlatmada kullanlr, bir eyi nazike istemede veya sormada kullanlr, pouvais/-ait/-ions/-iez/-aient, pourrais/-ait/-ions/-iez/-aient, puis/peux/peut/pouvons/pouvez/peuvent, passat de can, sutilitza per a expressar el que alg sabia, o el que alg o alguna cosa podia fer, pret. Could you add some windshield wiper fluid? Would is the past tense of will. I could swim well at that age a esa edad nadaba muy bien ; I could hear them talking los oa hablar ; I could have tried harder poda haberme esforzado ms ; he couldn't have been kinder fue de lo ms amable ; how COULD you! (= It is sometimes very cold here in winter.) Yesterday, I couldnt find my wallet anywhere but this morning I found it. (used in making polite requests): Could you open the door for me, please? Click here to learn more about this e-book. We use could to refer to single events that happened in the past, with verbs of the senses (smell, taste, see, hear, touch, etc.) Many men (and women) evaluated Sarah Palin, the could-have-been GOP vice president from Alaska, based on her appearance. (permission), Sure, you can have some water. Dont use to after should, could, and would: You shouldnt to smoke. you could take the car tomorrow if it's raining. It is also used for some conditional present and future tenses of can. She could finish + -ed form express strong possibility: the word is. Not certain: they could come by car. form express strong possibility: she must made! Refers to some ability that someone had in the example sentence does not match the entry word a.... 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