could
verb
ukstrong/kʊd/weak/kəd/usstrong/kʊd/weak/kəd/couldverb(CAN)
A2
past simple of"can", used totalkabout what someone or something wasableorallowedto do:
（can 的过去式，表示能够或允许）能，可以When I wasyoungerI couldstayup allnightand not gettired.我年轻时，一通宵不睡觉都不觉得累。
It was sonoisythat we couldn'thearourselvesspeak.太吵了，我们连自己说话都听不见。
You said we couldwatchTV when wefinishedourhomework.你说过我们完成家庭作业后可以看电视。
Weaskedif thecomputercouldaccesstheinternet.我们询问这台计算机能否上网。
- Shewalkedoff before I could say anything.
- I could never haveachievedthis without theencouragementof myhusbandandfamily.
- I couldseeby thelookontheirfacesthat something waswrong.
- IwishI couldfind(the)timeto do morereading.
- Even when youwinamatchyou alwaysfeelyou could haveplayedbetter.
Grammar
Could
Could comes first in the verb phrase (after the subject and before another verb):…Could: form
Could comes first in the verb phrase (after the subject and before another verb):…Could: uses
We often use could to express possibility in the present and the future.…Could: past
We don’t usually use could to talk about single events that happened in the past.…Could,mayandmight
We use could, may and might to express degrees of possibility. Many native speakers disagree on which one expresses more or less certainty.…could
modal verb
ukstrong/kʊd/weak/kəd/usstrong/kʊd/weak/kəd/couldmodal verb(PERMISSION)
B1
used as a morepoliteformof "can" whenaskingforpermission:
（礼貌地请求许可，比用can更加有礼貌）可以，能Could Ispeakto Mr Davis,please?我可以和戴维斯先生通话吗？
Excuse me, could I just say something?对不起，我可以讲几句话吗？
- Could Iborrowyourpen?
- Could weseeher now,please?
- Could I have some morepudding?
- Could I useyourbathroom,please?
- Could Ileavethechildrenwith you thismorning?
Polite expressions
- actually
- allow
- be so good as tophrase
- by all meansidiom
- chance
- cordially
- magic word
- may I askidiom
- might
- might I ask/inquire/knowidiom
- no problemidiom
- obliged
- pardon (me)idiom
- problem
- say
- thank you
- welcome
- wonder
- would
- you're welcomeidiom
couldmodal verb(REQUEST)
A2
used as a morepoliteformof "can" whenaskingsomeone toprovidesomething or do something:
（礼貌地请求提供某物或做某事，比用can更加有礼貌）能，可以Could youlendme £5?你能借我5英镑吗？
Could youturnthatmusicdown a little,please?你能把音乐声调低一点吗？
- Please could youexplainwhy you're so late.
- I'mfrozen- could youclosethewindow?
- I've gotratherafullweeknextweek- could wepostponeourmeeting?
- If you could get thatreportfinishedbyThursdayI'd be verygrateful.
- Ben, could youhandround thebiscuits?
Making appeals & requests
- appellate
- ask forsomeone
- behest
- beseech
- call for orderphrase
- call onsomeone
- callsomeonein
- claim
- demand
- implore
- invite
- pay claim
- pretty pleaseidiom
- propitiation
- push
- push forsomething
- put in forsomething
- put the squeeze onsomeoneidiom
- reapply
- requisition
couldmodal verb(POSSIBILITY)
B1
used toexpresspossibility,especiallyslightoruncertainpossibility:
（尤用于表示微小或不确定的可能性）可以，能，也许A lot ofcrimecould beprevented.许多犯罪活动是可以防止的。
She couldarriveanytimenow.她现在随时会到。
This newdrugcould be animportantstepin thefightagainstcancer.这种新药可能是攻克癌症过程中迈出的重要一步。
Becarefulwith thatstick- you couldhavehityoursister!留心那根棍子——你差点打到你妹妹！
- Passengers couldfacelongdelays.
- Thetemperaturecouldfallbelow zeroovernight.
- You could be the Queen ofEngland, for all Icare- you're not coming in here without aticket.
- Anything couldhappenin the nexthalfhour.
- It is notinconceivablethat she could belying.
Possible and probable
- always
- anything's possibleidiom
- arguably
- as never beforeidiom
- auspiciously
- bet
- fair
- it isn't over until the fat lady singsidiom
- lean
- lean towards sth
- liable
- likelihood
- manage
- probable
- probably
- prospective
- prospectively
- realm
- tend
- tip
couldmodal verb(SUGGESTION)
B1
used for making asuggestion:
（用于提出建议）可以，能We could go out for adrinkafterworktomorrow, if youwant.要是你愿意，明天我们下班后可以去喝上一杯。
You couldalwayscallSusie andseeif she willbabysit.你随时可以给苏茜打电话，看看她能否帮你照看孩子。
- You couldoffertobuyher a new one.
- Could you get abiggerhouse?
- We couldtrymendingit withglue.
- I couldlookafter Toby for you.
- We could havelunchoneday.
Suggestions & proposals
- about
- bouncesomethingoffsomeone
- can't
- co-sponsor
- co-sponsorship
- drop
- if you take my meaningidiom
- imply
- make noisesidiom
- maybe
- move
- mover
- nomination
- on the tableidiom
- proposition
- putsomeonetosomethingidiom
- putsomethingin
- putsomethingup
- resubmission
- resubmit
couldmodal verb(SHOULD)
used for saying,especiallyangrily, what youthinksomeoneelseshould do:
（尤指生气地对某人表示不满）应该Well, you couldtrytolooka little moreenthusiastic!喂，你应该表现得热心一点！
Iwaitedagesfor you - you could have said that you weren't coming!我等了你很久——你应该提前说一声你不来！
Duty, obligation and responsibility
- accountable
- answer forsomething
- answerable
- baby
- brother
- commitment
- fail
- fiefdom
- gotta
- had better/best dosomethingidiom
- hat
- havesomethingonyourhandsidiom
- pass the buckidiom
- payyourduesidiom
- pigeon
- portfolio
- purview
- remit
- someone'sanswer tosomeone/somethingidiom
- stick
Grammar
Can,couldormay: typical errors
Could in the present only expresses weak possibility. Can expresses strong possibility:…Could
Could comes first in the verb phrase (after the subject and before another verb):…Could: form
Could comes first in the verb phrase (after the subject and before another verb):…Could: uses
We often use could to express possibility in the present and the future.…Could: past
We don’t usually use could to talk about single events that happened in the past.…Could,mayandmight
We use could, may and might to express degrees of possibility. Many native speakers disagree on which one expresses more or less certainty.…Idiom
could do withsomething