Could
Could
Could is an auxiliary verb, a modal auxiliary verb. We use could to:
- talk about past possibility or ability
- make requests
Structure of Could
subject + could + main verb
The main verb is always the bare infinitive (infinitive without "to").
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subject
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auxiliary verb
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main verb
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+
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My grandmother
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could
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swim.
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-
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She
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could not
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walk.
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couldn't
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|||
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?
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Could
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your grandmother
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swim?
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Notice that:
- Could is invariable. There is only one form of could.
- The main verb is always the bare infinitive.
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Use of Could
could: Past Possibility or Ability
We use could to talk about what was possible in the past, what we were able or free to do:
- I could swim when I was 5 years old.
- My grandmother could speak seven languages.
- When we arrived home, we could not open the door. (...couldn't open the door.)
- Could you understand what he was saying?
We use could (positive) and couldn't (negative) for general ability in the past. But when we talk about one special occasion in the past, we use be able to (positive) and couldn't (negative). Look at these examples:
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Past
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General
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Specific Occasion
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+
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My grandmother could speak Spanish.
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A man fell into the river yesterday. The police were able to save him.
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-
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My grandmother couldn't speak Spanish.
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A man fell into the river yesterday. The police couldn't save him.
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could: Requests
We often use could in a question to ask somebody to do something. The use of could in this way is fairly polite (formal):
- Could you tell me where the bank is, please?
- Could you send me a catalogue, please?
