His recovery could take months. In my prime, I could bench press 250 pounds. For example, if a woman says 'I can speak Arabic', you usually report this as 'She said she could speak Arabic'. Could cannot be used with another modal verb: We 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. Not: We hired a car and we could drive 1,000 miles in one week. In my prime, I could bench press 250 pounds. 1. His recovery could take months. A firework couldnt have done all that damage. In high school, I would do my homework on the bus. Invitations should be definite. 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. When you are making a suggestion, you are offering a possibility. Helen, _________ you come over here for a minute? In the case of permission, could is typically only used when asking permission, not giving it. This could be our only chance to get out of here. Im certain that the storm will get worse. could've contraction: colloquial, abbreviation (could have) potere v : I could've been someone, you know. 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. me dieron ganas de pegarle! For example, You would take Broadway. As you can see, the choice is gone from the sentence, so it is no longer a suggestion. 2. a used to say that something is possible. Add ${headword} to one of your lists below, or create a new one. 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. In other words, you had the ability to ride your bike home in 10 minutes, but that doesnt mean it was necessarily done in 10 minutes. Could cannot be used with another modal verb: We The word in the example sentence does not match the entry word. When discussing the past in this context, the word could is often used alongside the auxiliary verb have. Present perfect simple or present perfect continuous? Whats The Difference Between Yule And Christmas? As you can see, you are offering a possibility. When we want to guess or predict something, we use couldnt as the negative form of must. I had the ability to do my homework on the bus, but this doesnt mean that I did. You use could have to say that there is a possibility that something was true in the past. Apparently time had caught up with Mom before she could finish. We could order pizza tonight. How many times have you done that? You'd look great! A firework couldnt have done all that damage. You could at least have called me. Apparently time had caught up with Mom before she could finish. ): The food was terrible. You should go out and join a club or start playing a sport instead!, I had a fight with my best friend. I waited ages for you - you could have said that you weren't coming! In other words, "I will definitely go on vacation if it is possible to get the time off.". Improve your vocabulary with English Vocabulary in Use from Cambridge.Learn the words you need to communicate with confidence. 1. The negative form of could is couldnt. We use could when reporting clauses with can as past events: They told us we could wait in the hallway. Usage see: can. The word could is also often used for the subjunctive mood, which is used to express hypothetical or conditional statements. __________ I buy a DVD or a watch for my father's birthday? I would buy a big house if I had a million dollars. I could run faster then. (used to express conditional possibility or ability): You could do it if you tried. Many men (and women) evaluated Sarah Palin, the could-have-been GOP vice president from Alaska, based on her appearance. I hate to ask you for another favor, but I wonder if I could pay you to drive me home. Follow these quick and easy guidelines to never get confused again. me dieron ganas de pegarle! 4. 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. I waited ages for you - you Could is often used in reporting structures. We dont usually use could to talk about single events that happened in the past. Find out which word to choose and when. ( Ability in the Past) Examples: I could speak four languages when I was younger. Just read our guide on these commonly confused words. Future: other expressions to talk about the future, Future: present continuous to talk about the future (, Future: present simple to talk about the future (, Verb patterns: verb + infinitive or verb + -, Modality: other modal words and expressions, Conjunctions: causes, reasons, results and purpose, Relative clauses referring to a whole sentence, Relative clauses: defining and non-defining, Forming negative statements, questions and imperatives. Again, these examples make definite claims. (used in making polite requests): Could you open the door for me, please? Could you act as an interpreter for us, please? Note: These are only a handful of many aborted could-be classics. Learning the difference between "can" vs. "could" and when to use each one couldn't get any easier! If you say that someone could do something, you mean that they have the ability to do it, but they don't in fact do it. 10. We hired a car and we were able to/managed to drive 1,000 miles in one week. What should I do? If you were to put would into one of those same sentences, it turns it into a command rather than a suggestion. She could not ( couldnt ) drive a car. 8. Yes! In this sense, could refers to some ability that someone had in the past. We use could to ask for permission. Last year, he couldnt speak English very well, but now he can. For example, you could say: However, there are a few instances of polite expression where you only use would or could. Learn why. 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! Named after Sir Robert Peel, what are British police called. Here's a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead. cmo has podido! Seeing a few more examples in action can really drive this point home. 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! When actual past achievements are mentioned, we usually use was/were able to or managed to but not could in affirmative clauses. For example, In high school, I could dunk a basketball. 10. Lets look at examples of sentences that show how can and could are typically used. COULD Synonyms: 47 Synonyms & Antonyms for COULD | Thesaurus.com Find Out! Usage see: can. Privacy Policy. We knew they were in there. Nglish: Translation of could for Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation of could for Arabic Speakers. 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! 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 negative form of can is cannot or can't. Could you add some windshield wiper fluid? Conversely, would is making a definite claim. I hate to ask you for another favor, but I wonder if I could pay you to drive me home. In this case, they are still acting as auxiliary verbsthe main verb is omitted but still understood. When I was young, I could easily touch my toes. Could shows the ability to do something in the past or future. Learn a new word every day. You could [= might, may] be making the biggest mistake of your life! Could is the past tense of can, a verb used to denote ability. This medicine could help your cold. Find out which word to choose and when. ( Ability in the Past) Examples: I could speak four languages when I was younger. Instead you use might not have or may not have. 3. Possibility and impossibility. Instead, follow these simple rules that are illustrated with example sentences. Couldnt and couldnt have + -ed form express strong possibility: She must have made a mistake. Would is also a verb with many senses. They might just have you screaming in joy! The evidence is not conclusive, but he could (very well) be right. 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. Fourteen words that helped define the year. A few weeks wouldn't mean the difference in paying for college, and she could use the time to relax. 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. You also use could have to say that there was a possibility of something being true in the past, although it was not in fact true. If you think about would being the past tense of will, then it completely makes sense. Additionally, I will show you a memory tool that can help you choose would or could correctly every time. She could not ( couldnt ) drive a car. 2. 3. In this article, I will compare could vs. would, and I will use both words in several example sentences. This way, you will be able to see them in their proper context. Future: other expressions to talk about the future, Future: present continuous to talk about the future (, Future: present simple to talk about the future (, Verb patterns: verb + infinitive or verb + -, Modality: other modal words and expressions, Conjunctions: causes, reasons, results and purpose, Relative clauses referring to a whole sentence, Relative clauses: defining and non-defining, Forming negative statements, questions and imperatives. (The original words were probably: You can wait in the hallway.), She said we could book the tickets online. In high school, I could dunk a basketball. 1. (used in asking for permission): Could I borrow your pen? In both of these examples, could is being used to express an ability that the speaker had in the past. (possibility), Can I have some water, please? If you say that someone was able to do something, you usually mean that they had the ability to do it and they did it. 2. a used to say that something is possible. 10. We use can to make general statements about what is possible: It can be very cold here in winter. I could be wrong. 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. I could put advertisements on Facebook and Google. I waited ages for you - you von knnen, Konjunktiv von knnen, can , can could , , , , , usato come passato semplice di can per esprimere capacit o permesso al passato, usato come forma pi gentile di can per chiedere permesso di fare qualcosa, usato per esprimere ci che possibile o che potrebbe accadere, Test your vocabulary with our fun image quizzes, Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English. This medicine could help your cold. 2. 2. Any items you have not completed will be marked incorrect. SMART Vocabulary: palavras e frases relacionadas Gramtica Can, could or may: typical errors (permission), Sure, you can have some water. We could to order pizza tonight. Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012. You use could to say that there is a possibility that something is or will be true. Both can and could are followed by an infinitive without to. I wish I could've been there to see him open his presents. In my opinion, you _________ dye your hair blonde. It is commonly used together with other verbs to express ability, possibility, or permission (asking and giving). Could: form Affirmative (+) form Could comes first in the verb phrase (after the subject and before another verb): We could have lunch early. Doing my homework on the bus was something that I did do, not just something that I had the ability to do. I would buy a new car if I had the money. 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. The evidence is not conclusive, but he could (very well) be right. Do you think Batman could beat Superman in basketball? His recovery could take months. Cheetahs can run faster than lions can [run]. Related Words and Phrases See Also What is the opposite of could? (The speaker remembers hearing You can book the tickets online.). You use can to say that something is sometimes possible. If you are looking to make a statement of ability, think to yourself, I can do that., If you are looking to make a statement of certainty or intent, think to yourself, I will do that.. Not only did you have the ability to ride your bike home in 10 minutes, but you did do it in 10 minutes. However, by knowing the rules, you can really clear things up. Related Words and Phrases See Also What is the opposite of could? Yesterday, I couldnt find my wallet anywhere but this morning I found it. Could expresses possibility, while would expresses certainty and intent. (= It is sometimes very cold here in winter.) (used to express conditional possibility or ability): You could do it if you tried. Sign up to make the most of YourDictionary. 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. and mental processes (think, believe, remember, understand etc. Using COULD COULD and/or COULDNT is used as the past tense of CAN and/or CANT. (used in making polite requests): Could you open the door for me, please? So, you will use "could" for suggestions. I could have hit him! Could we have another cup of tea, please? Find out which word to choose and when. This wont always get you to the right answer, but it should work most of the time. Possibility and impossibility. Im not going to punish you, even though I could [punish you]. 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. Cannot and could not are used to say that someone is or was forbidden to do something. For example, "I would love to go to Barbados.". While I was working, I would go out to eat more frequently. We use can to make general statements about what is possible: It can be very cold here in winter. Advertisement 2. An old-fashioned rule we can no longer put up with. I __________ call you last night because I left my cell phone at home. 2. It can be easy to mix up can with could. Don't use can or could after any other verbs. There are two other auxiliary verbs whose conjugations are similar to can and could. Send us feedback. How many times have you done that? Be Careful!Don't use 'could not' to say that there is a possibility that something is not true. Last year, he couldnt speak English very well, but now he can. . It couldnt be true. (= Maybe they will come by car.) (= Maybe they will come by car.) We had to give away our dog when we moved to England. 1. It is used to express that someone is able to do something in the past. If you want to say that it is impossible that something is true, you use cannot or could not. We use could to show that something is possible, but not certain: They could come by car. Could is a verb with many senses. 0 && stateHdr.searchDesk ? Just read our guide on these commonly confused words. If this activity does not load, try refreshing your browser. Could: form Affirmative (+) form Could comes first in the verb phrase (after the subject and before another verb): We could have lunch early. Apparently time had caught up with Mom before she could finish. You use a future form of be able to to talk about ability in the future. Feeling confident about how much youve learned about these verbs? Be Careful!Don't use 'could not have' to say that there is a possibility that something was not true. ( Ability in the Past) Examples: I could speak four languages when I was younger. 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. If you leave this page, your progress will be lost. Can and could are used with verbs such as see, hear, and smell to say that someone is or was aware of something through one of their senses. 4. We use could to show that something is possible, but not certain: They could come by car. I could have hit him! Need synonyms for could? This shows grade level based on the word's complexity. If so, show off how capable you are by taking our quiz on can vs. could. 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. Sure!. Many native speakers disagree on which one expresses more or less certainty. 4. 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? Add could to one of your lists below, or create a new one. We could also give out pamphlets in our neighborhood. I waited ages for you - you could have said that you weren't coming! In my prime, I could bench press 250 pounds. Sentences with the word could William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 HarperCollins Could comes first in the verb phrase (after the subject and before another verb): We often use could to express possibility in the present and the future. 0 && stateHdr.searchDesk ? (I was so angry) you could have warned me! Grammatically, though, either one is completely acceptable. You could [= might, may] be making the biggest mistake of your life! Find out which word to choose and when. Both would and could are modal auxiliary verbs, which are better known as a form of helping verbs. Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright 2013 by the Philip Lief Group. 2. Be able to is sometimes used after modals such as might or should, and after verbs such as want, hope, or expect. Good luck! 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. In the case of possibility, the present perfect tense is typically used. I wish I could've been there to see him open his presents. The simple past tense form of can is could. These uses are dealt with separately in this entry. see can (could) do with; see with half an eye, could. How to use a word that (literally) drives some pe Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference. You _________ like my brother if you got to know him better. Heres an example of could to talk about future possibilities: Do you have any ideas for our publicity campaign?, Yes, Ive got a few ideas. Yesterday, I couldnt find my wallet anywhere but this morning I found it. For example, In high school, I could dunk a basketball. Be able to is more formal than can. The American Heritage Idioms Dictionary It is used to express that someone is able to do something in the past. A soda would be great. Although they seem similar, there are definite situations when one word is more appropriate than the other. '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. Need synonyms for could? 2. What does would mean? '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. Hmm I think you should call her and tell her youre sorry.. In both of these examples, could is expressing possibility: things that could have been true or things that could yet come true. (permission). Could cannot be used with another modal verb: We Thats not good you should go to the doctor., I want to make more friends, but I dont know how. 2. Now it takes me 20 minutes! When asking for permission, could is often considered to be more formal or more polite than can. Thanks!, Would you like to join us for dinner? 4. and Could you tell me which one is more expensive? Home Could vs. Would Whats the Difference? The subject and could change position to form questions. (You didnt call I think you should have called.). Could is also used in the context of ability, possibility, or permission. We use can: We dont usually use could to talk about single events that happened in the past. to show disapproval (to show that we dont like what someone has done): Grandfather, how could you? We use can to make general statements about what is possible: It can be very cold here in winter. Now it takes me 20 minutes! Could is the past tense of can, a verb used to denote ability. When it comes to polite expressions, like making a request or asking permission, could and would can be used pretty interchangeably. cmo has podido! In high school, I could do my homework on the bus. If you really tried, you could easily pass the test tomorrow. cmo has podido! See how your sentence looks with different synonyms. Is this year's Sundance sales frenzy a direct result of last year's little-movie-that-could? Using COULD COULD and/or COULDNT is used as the past tense of CAN and/or CANT. 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! Related Words and Phrases See Also What is the opposite of could? We use could to refer to single events that happened in the past, with verbs of the senses (smell, taste, see, hear, touch, etc.) Im not certain that the storm will get worse. I would to buy a new car if I had the money. The past tense of the verb will is would and the past tense of the verb shall is should. Could is more formal and polite than can: We dont use could to give or refuse permission. It just means that you had the ability to do it in 10 minutes. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. 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! If I were to take a vacation, it could be somewhere warm and tropical. We use could to refer to single events that happened in the past, with verbs of the senses (smell, taste, see, hear, touch, etc.) We use could when reporting clauses with can as past events: They told us we could wait in the hallway. Should you use would or could" in your sentence? The word in the example sentence does not match the entry word. When I was young, I could easily touch my toes. 5. me dieron ganas de pegarle! How could you leave me? In this sense, could refers to some ability that someone had in the past. Now it takes me 20 minutes! When each letter can be seen but not heard. They are also used to say that someone has permission to do something. Present perfect simple or present perfect continuous? This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Good luck! What do you think? Here's How. Here's a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead. Last year, he couldnt speak English very well, but now he can. Could and would are two such verbs. We use could, may and might to express degrees of possibility. I waited ages for you - you Add ${headword} to one of your lists below, or create a new one. Just read our guide on these commonly confused words. Need synonyms for could? 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). Might and may can be used in a similar way. Also see under can; couldn't. Now it takes me 20 minutes! of can 1. auxiliary verb. 3. Can and could are used to say that someone is allowed to do something. ): The food was terrible. As you can see, could is making a simple claim of ability. Could is the past tense of can, a verb used to denote ability. 2. a used to say that something is possible. Possibility and impossibility. For more on condition sentences, see here. Click here to learn more about this e-book. Could and couldnt are the past forms of can and cant: When I was younger, I could run a mile in 7 minutes. (The original words were probably: You can wait in the hallway.), She said we could book the tickets online. 2. Maybe John could even contact local TV stations., Note: In this case, would is often shortened tod. You dont want to leave any question that you are offering or inviting someone. Id love to, but I actually have other plans tonight., Would you like to see some pictures from my vacation? A few weeks wouldn't mean the difference in paying for college, and she could use the time to relax. Not: I could buy a wonderful bag to match my shoes. Could cannot be used with another modal verb: We She could not ( couldnt ) drive a car. Using the word opinion. Yesterday, I couldnt find my wallet anywhere but this morning I found it. The difference between should, could, and would is difficult for many English learners this lesson will help you understand when to use each one! Lets take the first of these two examples. Its a fact. These words are used to talk about ability, awareness, and possibility. Could you come over here? The subject and could change position to form questions. Im certain that the storm will get worse.

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