10 March 2012 / by Radmila Gurkova

She COULD be a good teacher

P4 - Modals (could) for expressing ability, request, permission, possibility

subject + could + main verb


Can you use modal verb?


 Use - Could does not change


Remember: Could cannot be used with to

  • I could to swim 

  • I could swim


We can use 'Could' to talk about the past, the present or the future.

'Could' is a past form of 'can'

  • When I was living in London, I could walk to work.

  • Peter called  to say he couldn't come.


Instead of using 'Can' we can use 'Could' to make polite requests.

  • Could you tell me where the nearest bank is?

  • Could I borrow some money?

  • Could you take this?


We use 'could' to reply but meaning we don't want to really do it.

  • I could give you hand if you want.

  • I could take you if it's really urgent but I'm really busy right now.


'Could' is used to talk about possibility or past ability

  • It could rain later

  • I could eat at home.

  • I could speak 6 languages.


Used with hypothetical or conditional force

  • If we could help, we would


We use could (positive) and couldn't (negative)

Click here to watch a video with the word 'could'

26

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