The meaning of COULD is —used in auxiliary function in the past, in the past conditional, and as an alternative to can suggesting less force or certainty or as a polite form in the present. How to use …

COULD definition: 1. past simple of "can", used to talk about what someone or something was able or allowed to do…. Learn more.

We use could have to say that someone had the ability or opportunity to do something, but did not do it: She could have learned Swahili, but she didn't want to.

Definition of could modal verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Apr 9, 2025 · Learn 8 expert ways to use could in English—past abilities, polite requests, regrets, and more—with real examples and clear practice tips.

"Could" is a modal verb 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."

COULD definition: a simple past tense of can. See examples of could used in a sentence.

A list of what tend to be regarded as modal auxiliary verbs in Modern English, along with their inflected forms, is shown in the following table. Contractions are shown only if their orthography is distinctive. …

Mar 23, 2023 · Learn the difference between can vs. could and how to use each of them in a sentence, with examples of each word used correctly.

could (kŏŏd; unstressed kəd), v. a pt. of can 1. auxiliary verb. (used to express possibility): I wonder who that could be at the door. That couldn't be true. (used to express conditional possibility or ability): You …