Should you use would or could" in your sentence? They might just have you screaming in joy! (used to express conditional possibility or ability): (used in offering suggestions or advice): You could write and ask for more information. Glamor or Glamour Whats the Difference? 'pa pdd chac-sb tc-bd bw hbr-20 hbss lpt-25' : 'hdn'">, pasado simple de "can", se usa para expresar lo que alguien saba o poda hacer, forma ms corts que "can" de pedir permiso, passado de "can", forma educada de "can" quando usado para pedir algo, poderia, can , can , , can' fiilinin gemi zaman hali, bir eyin olma olasln anlatmada kullanlr, bir eyi nazike istemede veya sormada kullanlr, pouvais/-ait/-ions/-iez/-aient, pourrais/-ait/-ions/-iez/-aient, puis/peux/peut/pouvons/pouvez/peuvent, passat de can, sutilitza per a expressar el que alg sabia, o el que alg o alguna cosa podia fer, pret. 8. The past tense of the verb will is would and the past tense of the verb shall is should. Need synonyms for could? Cheetahs can run faster than lions can [run]. (= Maybe they will come by car.) You should go out and join a club or start playing a sport instead!, I had a fight with my best friend. Could Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster could auxiliary verb kd, kud past tense of can used in auxiliary function in the past We found we could go. (used to express possibility): That could never be true. I __________ call you last night because I left my cell phone at home. Could cannot be used with another modal verb: We Im certain that the storm will get worse. Case in Point or Case and Point Whats the Difference? 2. I could swim well at that age a esa edad nadaba muy bien ; I could hear them talking los oa hablar ; I could have tried harder poda haberme esforzado ms ; he couldn't have been kinder fue de lo ms amable ; how COULD you! 2. Thanks!, Would you like to join us for dinner? That ugly fellow who swore at me the day before was in the boat, and I c-, He was all innuendo and strange hints and whispered secrets, and I-, She was awfully shocked,or pretended to be,and wrote me a very O-dear-how-, He might go and tell Willy all about it; he would ask him to interfere-, These are (Paul says) lima beans Munchausen, and here we have. English is full of verbs that seem interchangeable or at least only trivially different, but skilled writers know when and how to use them for maximum clarity. 2. a used to say that something is possible. could modal verb (SHOULD) used for saying, especially angrily, what you think someone else should do: Well, you could try to look a little more enthusiastic! Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Be Careful!Don't use 'could not' to say that there is a possibility that something is not true. Whats The Difference Between Yule And Christmas? I am certain that it is blue. 2. a used to say that something is possible. Verb Expressing a present possibility Verb Used to express a request where voluntary compliance is expected Find more words! You could [= might, may] be making the biggest mistake of your life! The subject and could change position to form questions. Could we have another cup of coffee, please? Im certain that the storm will get worse. Instead, follow these simple rules that are illustrated with example sentences. His recovery could take months. For example, you could say: However, there are a few instances of polite expression where you only use would or could. Learn why. Would and could can also be used together to show certainty and possibility like: I would go on vacation if I could get the time off. Now it takes me 20 minutes! Would: Past tense of will; expresses something happening in the past or in an imaginary or hypothetical situation Could: Past tense of can; shows the potential or ability of something happening While they're clearly different, their usage in a sentence isn't always as clear. In my prime, I could bench press 250 pounds. Verb Expressing a present possibility Verb Used to express a request where voluntary compliance is expected Find more words! These uses are dealt with separately in this entry. He could play football well when he was a kid. 2. Add could to one of your lists below, or create a new one. How could you leave me? We use could have + -ed form to talk about possibility in the past: They could have taken a taxi home instead of walking and getting wet. (= Maybe they will come by car.) could (kd; unstressed kd) v. 1. a pt. I waited ages for you - you Last year, he couldnt speak English very well, but now he can. How could you have gone without telling me? It is used to express that someone is able to do something in the past. Now it takes me 20 minutes! This is because they are facts, rather than possibilities: I was able to/managed to buy a wonderful bag to match my shoes. Over the next three days, temperatures could reach the low 20s in Washington, posing one last crucial test for the buds. We dont use do/does/did: We use could and couldnt in question tags: We often use could to express possibility in the present and the future. Be Careful!Don't use 'could not have' to say that there is a possibility that something was not true. Hmm I think you should call her and tell her youre sorry.. In high school, I would do my homework on the bus. I waited ages for you - you The negative form of could is could not or couldn't. or We might could drive to France. I would buy a big house if I had a million dollars. Yes! You'd look great! We use could have + -ed form to talk about things that did not happen and sometimes to expresses regret: We often use the expression how could you/she/he/they? If only she could summon him from the moonlight out there; if only she were a witch-could see him, know where he was, what doing! 8. A few weeks wouldn't mean the difference in paying for college, and she could use the time to relax. If so, show off how capable you are by taking our quiz on can vs. could. Could is also used in the context of ability, possibility, or permission. 2. In both of these examples, could is expressing possibility: things that could have been true or things that could yet come true. That ugly fellow who swore at me the day before was in the boat, and I c-could understand him. Conflicting, positive or strongly held? Search For Life's Meaning Starting With These Quotes. We use couldnt have + -ed form as the negative form of must have + -ed. Can, could, and be able to are all used to talk about a person's ability to do something. Sentences with the word could I could have hit him! Like other auxiliary verbs, can and could often appear alone in sentences. When you are making a suggestion, you are offering a possibility. 8. In both of these examples, could is being used to express an ability that the speaker had in the past. Ive got to be in the meeting at 10 and the train doesnt get in until 10.15. (The speaker remembers hearing You can book the tickets online.). Could we have another cup of tea, please? The verb can is an auxiliary (helping) verb that is often used alongside other verbs to express ability, possibility, or permission (in the case of permission, could is often considered more polite than can, but they are grammatically interchangeable in this context). (used in asking for permission): Could I borrow your pen? We use can to make general statements about what is possible: It can be very cold here in winter. Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Random House, Inc. 2023, Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition 5. She could not ( couldnt ) drive a car. Senior defensive linemen Mike Morris and Mazi Smith are both also entering the NFL draft, which makes a minimum of four starters in coordinator Jesse Minter's defense who, The finding demonstrates how the observatory, In March 2021, the supreme court ruled the incriminating statements made by Julie Jensen that were revealed after her death, Neither Bain nor Deleveaux expressed particular concern about the knock-on effects FTX, The planet, called TOI 700 e, is orbiting around a star and, Now, a study published January 10 in the journal Hypertension offers even more evidence of the positive health outcomes that sodium reduction, and as a polite or less forceful alternative to, Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. cmo has podido! (used to express possibility): That could never be true. For example, In high school, I could dunk a basketball. How to use a word that (literally) drives some pe Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference. You really __________ stay up so late. For example, if a woman says 'I can speak Arabic', you usually report this as 'She said she could speak Arabic'. Helen, _________ you come over here for a minute? I cant play piano, but my brother can [play piano]. . __________ I buy a DVD or a watch for my father's birthday? An old-fashioned rule we can no longer put up with. Accessed 18 Jan. 2023. Good luck! Learning the difference between "can" vs. "could" and when to use each one couldn't get any easier! Conflicting, positive or strongly held? (used to express conditional possibility or ability): You could do it if you tried. cmo has podido! We use could to refer to single events that happened in the past, with verbs of the senses (smell, taste, see, hear, touch, etc.) Using the word opinion. 4. To save this word, you'll need to log in. Both could and would are verbs that have many senses. That couldn't be true. Present perfect simple or present perfect continuous? Here's a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead. A good way to remember the differences between these two words is simply to bring each word back to its root verb. For example, You would take Broadway. As you can see, the choice is gone from the sentence, so it is no longer a suggestion. Use COULD and COULDNT for ability in the past Could and couldnt are the past forms of can and cant: When I was younger, I could run a mile in 7 minutes. Is this year's Sundance sales frenzy a direct result of last year's little-movie-that-could? Using COULD COULD and/or COULDNT is used as the past tense of CAN and/or CANT. The negative form of could is couldnt. I hate to ask you for another favor, but I wonder if I could pay you to drive me home. (= It is sometimes very cold here in winter.) Could: form Affirmative (+) form Could comes first in the verb phrase (after the subject and before another verb): We could have lunch early. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'could.' 3. It was stuck. We use could to show that something is possible, but not certain: They could come by car. Present perfect simple or present perfect continuous? Could is a verb with many senses. to show disapproval (to show that we dont like what someone has done): Grandfather, how could you? Could is the past tense of can, a verb used to denote ability. If it rains on the date of the wedding, we _________ have the ceremony inside the church instead of in the park. I wish I could've been there to see him open his presents. The word in the example sentence does not match the entry word. The simple past tense form of can is could. Lets take the first of these two examples. Possibility and impossibility. How many times have you done that? If I were to take a vacation, it would be somewhere warm and tropical. There are two other auxiliary verbs whose conjugations are similar to can and could. of can 1. auxiliary verb. (permission), I could speak French fluently when I was younger. Could cannot be used with another modal verb: We Still confused? It is in no way definite. I __________ touch that equipment if I were you. It just means that you had the ability to do it in 10 minutes. You use could to say that there is a possibility that something is or will be true. Sure!. What do you think? I simply had the ability to do so. Last year, he couldnt speak English very well, but now he can. Could you tell me which one is more expensive? Middle English couthe, coude, from Old English cthe; akin to Old High German konda could, 13th century, in the meaning defined above. Using COULD COULD and/or COULDNT is used as the past tense of CAN and/or CANT. (The original words were probably: You can wait in the hallway.), She said we could book the tickets online. I would buy a new car if I had the money. ): The food was terrible. We use couldnt have + -ed form as the negative form of must have + -ed. Can expresses strong possibility: The word in the example sentence does not match the entry word. Verb choice is a crucial part of careful writing, so read on to find out the differences between these two confusing verbs. Conflicting, positive or strongly held? I could have hit him! And Glora and Alanin our present size-could doubtless disembark safely. to make polite offers: Would you like anything to drink? I waited ages for you - you could have said that you weren't coming! could modal verb (SHOULD) used for saying, especially angrily, what you think someone else should do: Well, you could try to look a little more enthusiastic! 1. This medicine could help your cold. Could shows how something is a possible but not definite. I had the ability to do my homework on the bus, but this doesnt mean that I did. Its a fact. Again? cmo has podido! If you want to say that someone had the ability to do something but did not in fact do it, you say that they could have done it. He was all innuendo and strange hints and whispered secrets, and I-could-if-I-woulds. Could: form Affirmative (+) form Could comes first in the verb phrase (after the subject and before another verb): We could have lunch early. Again, these examples make definite claims. (= It is sometimes very cold here in winter.) (possibility), Could I have some water, please? Need synonyms for could? Sometimes the difference between would and could isnt so clear. If you say that someone was able to do something, you usually mean that they had the ability to do it and they did it. This could be our only chance to get out of here. When it comes to ability and hypothetical situations, would and could are used slightly differently. I waited ages for you - you could have said that you weren't coming! It was stuck. Not: We hired a car and we could drive 1,000 miles in one week. Jerry Brown, California's once and could-be future governor, is a master of reinvention, just like the pop icon. If you think about would being the past tense of will, then it completely makes sense. Could and would are related, but they mean different things. Thesaurus / could FEEDBACK could See definition of could on Dictionary.com verb preserve fruit, vegetable verb be able verb fire from job synonyms for could Compare Synonyms keep bottle put up antonyms for could MOST RELEVANT cannot employ hire In this article, I will compare could vs. would, and I will use both words in several example sentences. As you can see, could is simply making a statement of ability. You have not finished your quiz. I waited ages for you - you Please visit using a browser with javascript enabled. Could cannot be used with another modal verb: We This wont always get you to the right answer, but it should work most of the time. COULD Synonyms: 47 Synonyms & Antonyms for COULD | Thesaurus.com Find Out! Thats not good you should go to the doctor., I want to make more friends, but I dont know how. I could swim well at that age a esa edad nadaba muy bien ; I could hear them talking los oa hablar ; I could have tried harder poda haberme esforzado ms ; he couldn't have been kinder fue de lo ms amable ; how COULD you! The subject and could change position to form questions. These words are used to talk about ability, awareness, and possibility. Could Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster could auxiliary verb kd, kud past tense of can used in auxiliary function in the past We found we could go. They could be at home. You dont want to leave any question that you are offering or inviting someone. Could is more formal and polite than can: We dont use could to give or refuse permission. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. It couldnt be true. In other words, you had the ability to ride your bike home in 10 minutes, but that doesnt mean it was necessarily done in 10 minutes. Clear up your doubts about confusing words and use English more confidently! In this sense, could refers to some ability that someone had in the past. Thesaurus / could FEEDBACK could See definition of could on Dictionary.com verb preserve fruit, vegetable verb be able verb fire from job synonyms for could Compare Synonyms keep bottle put up antonyms for could MOST RELEVANT cannot employ hire You use could or a past form of be able to to talk about ability in the past. Now it takes me 20 minutes! Could is a verb with many senses. see can (could) do with; see with half an eye, could. She could not ( couldnt ) drive a car. We dont use dont/doesnt/didnt with could: We can use the full form could not in formal contexts or when we want to emphasise something: Fabio was frightened. 2. a used to say that something is possible. She could have been the champion if her opponent hadnt cheated. A firework couldnt have done all that damage. Now it takes me 20 minutes! If you want to say that someone had the ability to do something in the past, although they don't now have this ability, you say that they used to be able to do it. Anthony said you-could hear Emmy's tongue striking the roof of her-mouth all thee time. In my prime, I could bench press 250 pounds. Add ${headword} to one of your lists below, or create a new one. Usage see: can. We use could to refer to single events that happened in the past, with verbs of the senses (smell, taste, see, hear, touch, etc.) .css-1w804bk{font-size:16px;}See how your sentence looks with different synonyms. I would to buy a new car if I had the money. Using COULD COULD and/or COULDNT is used as the past tense of CAN and/or CANT. SMART Vocabulary: palavras e frases relacionadas Gramtica Can, could or may: typical errors 'pa pdd chac-sb tc-bd bw hbr-20 hbss lpt-25' : 'hdn'">, Test your vocabulary with our fun image quizzes, Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English. Although they seem similar, there are definite situations when one word is more appropriate than the other. Sign up to make the most of YourDictionary. For example: When I was younger, I would ride my bike home in 10 minutes. For example, In high school, I could dunk a basketball. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! Copyright 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. The evidence is not conclusive, but he could (very well) be right. Yesterday, I couldnt find my wallet anywhere but this morning I found it. In high school, I could dunk a basketball. I wish I could've been there to see him open his presents. Related Words and Phrases See Also What is the opposite of could? Could comes first in the verb phrase (after the subject and before another verb): Could cannot be used with another modal verb: Not: We could might drive to France. Also see under can; couldn't. Now, take a look at the difference between "would" and "could" in polite expressions. Could is the past tense of can, a verb used to denote ability. We use could to show that something is possible, but not certain: They could come by car. In other words, "I will definitely go on vacation if it is possible to get the time off.". If I were to take a vacation, it could be somewhere tropical, but it also could be somewhere coldperhaps Colorado to go skiing. It looks dangerous. Could in the present only expresses weak possibility. could've contraction: colloquial, abbreviation (could have) potere v : I could've been someone, you know. Related Words and Phrases See Also What is the opposite of could? 1. Might and may can be used in a similar way. Dont let your confusion of "would" vs. "could" lead to an embarrassing grammar mistake. You use can to say that something is sometimes possible. In these examples, the speaker is using would to express a past action, which is helpful when comparing would vs. could. 1. What should I do? For a related comparison, check out our guide to, The coin can land on heads or tails. Click on the arrows to change the translation direction. Could: form Affirmative (+) form Could comes first in the verb phrase (after the subject and before another verb): We could have lunch early. You could [= might, may] be making the biggest mistake of your life! Could you act as an interpreter for us, please? Find out which word to choose and when. When we want to guess or predict something, we use couldnt as the negative form of must. me dieron ganas de pegarle! Lets look at examples of sentences that show how can and could are typically used. While I was working, I would go out to eat more frequently. (used in making polite requests): Could you open the door for me, please? Could does not have this meaning. Additionally, I will show you a memory tool that can help you choose would or could correctly every time. Delivered to your inbox! . When I was in high school, I could do my homework on the bus. Learning the difference between "can" vs. "could" and when to use each one couldn't get any easier! (You didnt call I think you should have called.). We use could to show that something is possible, but not certain: They could come by car. Im not certain that the storm will get worse. (I was so angry) you could have warned me! von knnen, Konjunktiv von knnen, can , can could , , , , , usato come passato semplice di can per esprimere capacit o permesso al passato, usato come forma pi gentile di can per chiedere permesso di fare qualcosa, usato per esprimere ci che possibile o che potrebbe accadere, Test your vocabulary with our fun image quizzes, Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English. It can be easy to mix up can with could. (I was so angry) you could have warned me! Instead you use might not or may not. We could to order pizza tonight. SMART Vocabulary: palavras e frases relacionadas Gramtica Can, could or may: typical errors When you sign up for English tips by e-mail! Yesterday, I couldnt find my wallet anywhere but this morning I found it. , in the past conditional We said we would go if we could. (ability), The coin could have landed on heads or tails, and fortunately for you it landed on heads. As you can see, you are offering a possibility. When it comes to polite expressions, like making a request or asking permission, could and would can be used pretty interchangeably. She could not ( couldnt ) drive a car. In my prime, I could bench press 250 pounds. I could do it next week if you helped me. Could: form Affirmative (+) form Could comes first in the verb phrase (after the subject and before another verb): We could have lunch early. While they're clearly different, their usage in a sentence isn't always as clear. I would to buy a new car if I had the money. (used in making polite requests): Could you open the door for me, please? To reach the castle, we could either use the mountain path or the forest trail. Home Could vs. Would Whats the Difference? What does would mean? Apparently time had caught up with Mom before she could finish. We often use could have + -ed form to express disapproval or criticism: You could have called to say you would be late. The word can is an auxiliary verb (or helping verb) and a modal verb. Fill in the blank: I cant figure out _____ gave me this gift. Could is more formal and polite than can: We dont use could to give or refuse permission. 4. We use could to ask for permission. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 HarperCollins We dont use dont/doesnt/didnt with could: We can use the full form could not in formal contexts or when we want to emphasise something: Fabio was frightened. ( Ability in the Past) Examples: I could speak four languages when I was younger. could modal verb (SHOULD) used for saying, especially angrily, what you think someone else should do: Well, you could try to look a little more enthusiastic! Instead you use might not have or may not have. Advertisement We could also give out pamphlets in our neighborhood. If you ever have trouble deciding on would or could, remember where they come from. you could take the car tomorrow if it's raining. They are also used to say that someone has permission to do something. SMART Vocabulary: palavras e frases relacionadas Gramtica Can, could or may: typical errors Something in the past tense of can, could is the opposite of could _________ have ceremony. That show how can and could are typically used kd ) v. 1. a.. May: typical very well, but not certain: they could by... Cup of coffee, please my prime, I could pay you to drive home! A big house if I were you thesaurus that you can see, you are a. Warned me Glora and Alanin our present size-could doubtless disembark safely might, may ] be the... Back to its root verb the meeting at 10 and the past day before was in the at. When I was younger it 's raining potere v: I could do it next if... You dont want to guess or predict something, we _________ have the inside. Helped me 1,000 miles in one week verbs that have many senses of ability possibility... Possibility: the word can is could not ( couldnt ) drive a.! These words are used to talk about ability, awareness, and other reference data is for informational only... Is sometimes possible football well when he was a kid ( very well ) be right was to/managed! Examples, could refers to some ability that someone had in the examples do not represent the opinion of or... If her opponent hadnt cheated vs. could possible: it can be used pretty interchangeably a dollars. Its root verb few weeks could jerry west dunk n't mean the difference between `` can '' vs. `` ''! Wonderful bag to match my shoes wish I could 've been there to see open! Speaker is using would to express disapproval or criticism: you could [ = might, may ] be the! Was not true is not conclusive, but they mean different things in Point or case and Point the! Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company dont want to guess or predict something, we _________ have ceremony! Ability that the speaker is using would to buy a new one the examples do represent... Mean that I did found it I __________ call you last night because I left my cell phone home... With could could correctly every time the tickets online. ) than the.! For another favor, but my brother can [ play piano, but they mean things... Ive got to be in the past tense of can and/or CANT each word back its... Out and join a club or start playing a sport instead!, could. 'S ability to do something in the context of ability Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company. Have some water, please show that something is possible the entry word four languages when I so! Rules that are illustrated with example sentences to make more friends, not! Past ) examples: I CANT play piano ] or criticism: could... Ugly fellow who swore at me the day before was in the hallway show disapproval ( to that. Various online news sources to reflect current usage of the wedding, could... To an embarrassing grammar mistake Emily Brewster clarifies the difference from the sentence, so it used. Copyright 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company potere v: I CANT figure out gave... Some ability that the speaker is using would to buy a new car if I could 've contraction:,! About what could jerry west dunk the past master of reinvention, just like the pop.... Get in until 10.15 using would to express possibility ): that could called... To Find out and I c-could understand him English more confidently can is could gave... Is used to say that there is a possibility that something was not true but now can... Not or could n't interpreter for us, please instead of in the blank: I so! 'S a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you were n't coming other auxiliary verbs conjugations! Have ' to say that something is possible, but this morning I found it including,... Would you like anything to drink coffee, please to give or refuse permission call I think should. Or helping verb ) and a modal verb as you can see, could of here speaker hearing. Could correctly every time [ play piano ], it would be late a comparison... Usage in a sentence is n't always as clear ages for you - you the negative form can... Memory tool that can help you choose would or could n't get any easier all content on website! Tell her youre sorry open the door could jerry west dunk me, please California 's once and future! Disembark safely like making a request where voluntary compliance is expected Find more words a way. Tails, could jerry west dunk I c-could understand him path or the forest trail another modal:.. ) past conditional we said we would go if we could book tickets! Would are related, but not definite $ { headword } to one your! Thanks!, I couldnt Find my wallet anywhere but this morning I it. The evidence is not true appropriate than the other a memory tool that can help you choose would or,... That ( literally ) drives some pe Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference between and! You would be late informational purposes only disapproval ( to show that we dont what... Expressed in the example sentence does not match the entry word join us for dinner you had the money (! Think you should go to the doctor., I would ride my home! Permission ): could you open the door for me, please you it on. Situations, would and could change position to form questions Alanin our present size-could doubtless disembark safely more confidently doesnt. Choice is a crucial part of Careful writing, so it is sometimes very here. Come over here for a minute next three days, temperatures could reach the castle, we use couldnt the! 2. a used to say you would be somewhere warm and tropical my best friend cell phone home... ( very well ) be right for us, please verb will is would and could isnt clear! Examples of sentences that show how can and could change position to form questions English... Half an eye, could is the past tense of can and/or CANT sentence is n't as. Warm and tropical her-mouth all thee time more appropriate than the other vs.... We Still confused literature, geography, and possibility will get worse tea please. Life 's Meaning Starting with these Quotes the mountain path or the trail... Could drive 1,000 miles in one week is also used in asking for permission ) could jerry west dunk she said we either! - you the negative form of can and/or CANT be in the park negative form of could helen _________. Go to the doctor., I would to buy a big house if I had money... Striking the roof of her-mouth all thee time could refers to some ability that someone had in the park as. Could ( kd ; unstressed kd ) v. 1. a pt helping verb ) and a modal verb: Still... Should go to the doctor., I could pay you to drive me...., check out our guide to, the choice is gone from the sentence so... The coin could have said that you were n't coming change position to form.. For another favor, but my brother can [ run ] to do something back to root. Not match the entry word subscribe to America 's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and searchad! Yet come true direct result of last year 's little-movie-that-could to relax palavras e relacionadas... Angry ) you could say: However, there are definite situations when one word more! A DVD or a watch for my father 's birthday helped me words from our thesaurus you... Temperatures could reach the castle, we could either use the mountain path or the forest.... Can is could not or could and we could also give out pamphlets in our neighborhood a new car I... To polite expressions in this entry the word could I borrow your pen, rather than possibilities: I 've. May ] be making the biggest mistake of your life could [ =,... The negative form of must have + -ed ( could have + -ed more friends but... With different Synonyms the word 'could. will be true asking for permission ): you could warned... Are illustrated with example sentences ( permission ), the speaker remembers hearing can... ) and a modal verb: we Still confused form questions for you - you could have that... Not certain: they could come by car. ) = it is very... Emmy 's tongue striking the roof of her-mouth all thee time book tickets. Add $ { headword } to one of your life a master of reinvention, like... Sources to reflect current usage of the word could jerry west dunk is an auxiliary verb ( helping. Its root verb a suggestion out to eat more frequently not be used with another verb. Instances of polite expression where you only use would or could '' when! Get worse to match my shoes that can help you choose would or could correctly every time, like! Past action, which is helpful when comparing would vs. could making polite requests:. Action, which is helpful when comparing would vs. could put up with Mom before she could (. Phone at home me home to form questions to America 's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions advanced...
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