How to use could in a sentence. Past simple of can, used to talk about what someone or something was able or allowed to do… Could is also used to talk about ability in the present, but it has a special meaning 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. You use could to talk about a possibility, ability, or opportunity that depends on other conditions Their hope was that a new and better east germany could be born.
We use could have to say that someone had the ability or opportunity to do something, but did not do it She could have learned swahili, but she didn't want to. I wonder who that could be at the door (used to express conditional possibility or ability) You could do it if you tried (used in making polite requests)
Could is a modal verb 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. A simple past tense of can. See examples of could used in a sentence. Definition of could modal verb in oxford advanced learner's dictionary Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
Learn 8 expert ways to use could in english—past abilities, polite requests, regrets, and more—with real examples and clear practice tips.
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