Mary couldn't be the one who stole the money.. Mary couldn't have been the one who stole the money.. Mary couldn't possibly go to jail for the crime.. Even if I had more time, I couldn't
Trang 1"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
You could see a movie or go out to dinner. suggestion
Could I use your computer to email my boss? request
We could go on the trip if I didn't have to work this weekend. conditional
Using "Could" in Present, Past, and Future
Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below
to learn how "could" behaves in different contexts
Modal Use
Positive Forms
1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future
Negative Forms
1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future
Also use:
could
possibility
1. John could be the one who stole the money
2. John could have been the one who stole the money
3. John could go to jail for stealing the money.
1. Mary couldn't be the one who stole the money
2. Mary couldn't have been the one who stole the money
3. Mary couldn't possibly go to jail for the crime
might, may
1. If I had more time, I could travel around the world
1. Even if I had more time, I couldn't travel around the world
Home > Modal Verb Tutorial > Could
englishpage com
Trang 2conditional
of can
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
2. You could have spent your vacation in Hawaii
3. You could spend your vacation
in Hawaii.
NO NEGATIVE FORMS
could
past ability
I could run ten miles in my twenties
I could speak Chinese when I was a kid
"Could" cannot be used in positive sentences in which you describe a momentary or one
time ability.
Yesterday, I could lift the couch
by myself. Not Correct
I couldn't run more than a mile in
my twenties
I couldn't speak Swahili
"Could" can be used in negative sentences in which you describe
a momentary or onetime ability.
Yesterday, I couldn't lift the couch by myself. Correct
be able to
could
polite
request
Could I have something to drink?
Could I borrow your stapler?
Requests usually refer to the near future.
Couldn't he come with us?
Couldn't you help me with this for just a second?
Requests usually refer to the near future.
can, may, might
REMEMBER: "Could not" vs. "Might not"
"Could not" suggests that it is impossible for something to happen. "Might not" suggests
you do not know if something happens
Trang 3Jack 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.
EXERCISES AND RELATED TOPICS
Copyright © 2016 Englishpage.com, All Rights Reserved.
Contact us | Privacy Policy | Advertise with us
Your personal online English school. Learn English at Englishpage.com!
Weekly Lesson Grammar Book Vocabulary Verb Tenses Conditionals Modals
Gerunds / Infinitives Articles Prepositions Minitutorials Irregular Verbs Reading Room
Listening Lounge Games English Forums English Schools English · Foreign Dictionaries
English ·English Dictionaries Irregular Verb Dictionary Phrasal Verb Dictionary
Verb + Preposition Dictionary