English sentences using the word could

Examples of how to use the word “could” in a sentence. How to connect “could” with other words to make correct English sentences.

could (modal, v): used as a more polite form of “can” when asking for permission; past simple of “can”, used to talk about what someone or something was able or allowed to do

Use “could” in a sentence

Can

Мы используем can, чтобы сказать, что что-то возможно или разрешено, или что у кого-то есть физическая способность что-то сделать. Мы используем can + инфинитив (can do / can see и др.):

• We can see the lake from our bedroom window.
• ‘I haven’t got a pen.’ ‘You can use mine.’
• Can you speak any foreign languages?
• I can come and see you tomorrow if you like.
• The word ‘play’ can be a noun or a verb.

Отрицательная форма — can’t (= cannot):

• I’m afraid I can’t come to the party on Friday.

(Be) able to

Вы можете сказать, что кто-то is able to (способен) сделать что-то, но can более естественный вариант:

• We are able to see the lake from our bedroom window.

Но у can есть только две формы: can (настоящее время) и could (прошедшее время). Поэтому иногда необходимо использовать (be) able to. Сравните:

Could

Иногда could используется как прошедшее время модального глагола can. Часто мы используем could с:

see hear smell taste feel remember understand

• We had a lovely room in the hotel. We could see the lake.
• As soon as I walked into the room, I could smell gas.
• I was sitting at the back of the theatre and couldn’t hear very well.

Мы также используем could, чтобы сказать, что кто-либо обладал общей способностью или разрешением что-либо сделать:

• My grandfather could speak five languages.
• We were totally free. We could do what we wanted. (= we were allowed to do = нам было разрешено)

Could и was able to

Мы используем could, говоря об общей способности. Но если вы хотите сказать, что кто-то сделал что-то в какой-то конкретной ситуации, используйте was/were able to или managed to (not could):

• The fire spread through the building very quickly, but fortunately everybody was able to escape / managed to escape. (not could escape)
• We didn’t know where David was, but we managed to find / were able to find him in the end. (not could find)

Сравните:

Mike was an excellent tennis player when he was younger. He could beat anybody. (= в общем, у него была способность/возможность победить кого угодно)

Отрицательная форма couldn’t (could not) возможна во всех ситуациях:

• My grandfather couldn’t swim.
• We looked for David everywhere, but we couldn’t find him.
• Pete played well, but he couldn’t beat Mike.

Упражнения

1. Закончите предложения, используя can или (be) able to. Используйте can, если возможно; в противном случае, используйте (be) able to.

1. Gary has travelled a lot. He speak five languages.
2. I haven’t sleep very well recently.
3. Nicole drive, but she hasn’t got a car.
4. I used to stand on my head, but I can’t do it now.
5. I can’t understand Martin. I’ve never understand him.
6. I can’t see you on Friday, but I meet you on Saturday morning.
7. Ask Catherine about your problem. She might help you.

2. Напишите предложения о себе, используя идеи в скобках.

1. (something you used to be able to do)
2. (something you used to be able to do)
3. (something you would like to be able to do)
4. (something you have never been able to do)

3. Закончите предложения с can/can’t/could/couldn’t + следующее:

come eat hear run sleep wait

1. I’m afraid I to your party next week.
2. When Tim was 16, he 100 metres in 11 seconds.
3. ‘Are you in a hurry?’ ‘No, I’ve got plenty of time. I .’
4. I was feeling sick yesterday. I anything.
5. Can you speak a little louder? I you very well.
6. ‘You look tired.’ ‘Yes, I last night.’

4. Завершите ответы на вопросы с was/were able to … .

1. A: Did everybody escape from the fire?
   B: Yes, although the fire spread quickly, everybody …
2. A: Did you finish your work this afternoon?
   B: Yes, there was nobody to disturb me, so I …
3. A: Did you have difficulty finding our house?
   B: Not really. Your directions were good and we …
4. A: Did the thief get away?
   B: Yes. No-one realised what was happening and the thief …

5. Закончите предложения, выбрав could, couldn’t или managed to.

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Can and could are modal auxiliary verbs which express ability, permission, request, offer or possibility.

Could is originally the past form of can, but it also has certain functions which can does not, for example, it is used in hypothetical conditions.

Examples:

• She can speak English very well. (ability)
• I could ride a bike, but I couldn’t swim when I was seven years old. (ability)
• You can have a coffee break after you type these letters. (permission)
• Could I have some more salad with the meat? (request)
• Can I help you? Can I carry your bag? (offer)
• It could rain this afternoon. (possibility)
• This can’t be true. (negative possibility)
• We could get there in time if you were driving a bit faster. (hypothesis + ability/possibility)

Can and could are also used to express the progressive (continuous) aspect of verbs of perception (see, hear, feel, taste, smell, etc.) and verbs like understand, remember, etc:

Examples:

• Can you see the woman standing over there?
• We were so near the sea that I could hear the seagulls.
• When she entered the kitchen, she could smell something burning.
• I put my keys to a safe place before swimming, but now I can’t remember where.
• She couldn’t understand what the foreigner was saying.

As the past form of can, could is used for general ability in the past and in reported speech.

Examples:

• • When she was younger, she could work for ten hours without stopping.
  • He said he could get his wife to come to the football with us.

It is not used when only one occasion is implied, except for negative sentences:

Examples:

• How many goals were you able to score on Sunday?
• They managed to get to the station in ten minutes by taking a taxi.
• I was able to find all the words in the dictionary, still I couldn’t translate the text.

In requests, orders and suggestions, could is more polite than can:

Examples:

• Can I use your phone?
• Could you please do me a favour?
• Do you think you could help me for a few minutes?
• Do the washing first, then you can clean your room.
• When you’ve finished the letter, you could translate this article, if you like.
• If you haven’t got anything to do this afternoon, you could clean the car.

When we ask for permission, could is more polite than can. Could is not used to give or refuse permission:

Examples:

• Can/Could I ask you something? – Yes, of course you can.
• You can go now if you want to.
• Can I stay here for another hour? – No, I’m afraid you can’t.