could
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++could /kəd; strong kʊd/ ●●● S1 W1 modal verb (negative short form couldn’t) 1 past ability 过去的能力CAN used as the past tense of ‘can’ to say what someone was able to do or was allowed to do in the past 能，会，可以〔can 的过去式〕 By the time she was eight, she could read Greek and Latin. 她八岁时就会读希腊文和拉丁文了。 In those days you could buy a box of cigars for a dollar. 那时候，一美元能买一盒雪茄烟。 Could you hear what I was saying? 你能听到我说的话吗？ I couldn’t get tickets after all, they were sold out. 我最终还是没能弄到票，全都卖完了。 I knew I couldn’t afford the rent. 我知道我付不起租金。 The teacher said we could all go home. 老师说我们都可以回家了。2 possibility 可能性MAYBE a) used to say that something is possible or might happen 可以，可能 Most accidents in the home could be prevented. 大多数家庭意外事故都是可以事先预防的。 It could be weeks before we get a reply. 我们可能要等好几个星期才得到回复。 If you’re not careful, you could get into even worse trouble. 如果你不当心的话，可能会陷入更大的麻烦。 A faulty connection could easily (=would be likely to) cause a fire. 接错线路很容易引发火灾。 b) used to say that something was a possibility in the past, but did not actually happen 〔表示未发生的事情〕差点就，本来有可能 Somebody could have been killed. 差点有人送命。 I could have warned you if I had known where you were. 我要是知道你在哪里的话就提醒你了。 He could have escaped, but he chose to fight. 他本来可以逃走的，但他选择留下来战斗。3 emphasizing your feelings 强调感情 spoken used to emphasize how happy, angry etc you are by saying how you want to express your feelings 很想〔强调快乐、气愤等情绪〕 He irritates me so much I could scream. 他气得我真想尖叫。 I was so angry I could have killed her. 我气得都想把她杀了。 I was so relieved I could have kissed them all. 我开心得真想把他们亲个遍。4 requesting 请求ASK FOR something/ASK somebody TO DO something spoken used to make a polite request 能否，可不可以〔用于礼貌地请求〕 Could you help me with these boxes? 你能否帮我搬一搬这些箱子？ Could I have a drink of water, please? 我可以喝点水吗？ How about Sam? Could he come along too? 萨姆怎么样？ 他也可以一起去吗？ I wonder if I could just ask you to sign this. 我想能否请你在这上面签个名。5 suggesting 建议SUGGEST used to suggest doing something 可以〔用于建议做某事〕 You could ask your doctor for a check-up. 你可以请医生做个检查。 You could always try phoning her at the office. 你总可以打电话到她办公室找她。 Maybe we could get together sometime next week? 下周的什么时候我们也许可以聚一聚？ Couldn’t you get one of your friends to help you? 你不可以让你的朋友帮你吗？6 annoyance 恼怒ANNOY spoken used to show that you are annoyed about someone’s behaviour 应该，应当〔用于表示恼怒〕7 couldn’t be better/worse/more pleased etc VERYused to emphasize how good, bad etc something is 非常好/糟/开心等8 I couldn’t British English spokenREJECT/NOT ACCEPT used to politely say that you do not want any more food or drink 我吃[喝]不下了〔用于礼貌地表示你不再需要食物或饮料〕9 could do with something spoken to need or want something 需要某物；想要某物 → could do worse (than) at worse1(5), → couldn’t care less at care2(5), → couldn’t agree more at agree(1)n GRAMMAR: Patterns with could• You use could with the base form of the verb (=the infinitive without ‘to’): The teacher said we could go home. 老师说我们都可以回家了。He could be in his office.• You say Could I? when asking for permission: Could I use your phone? • You say that something could have happened: The team could have won.They could already have gone home.• You use couldn’t or could not in negative sentences: We couldn’t see anything.That could not be true.
Examples from the Corpus
could• Eleanor couldn't come last night.• I'm sure Francis could find out for you.• There's no way you could go by yourself, Kay.• Dad said we could go swimming after lunch.• You guys could go to the Sirloin Saloon for a nice big steak.• What about Sam? Could he come along, too?• I don't think I could live with someone like that.• Nobody could tell my hair was dirty.• We could use plastic cups, so we don't have to wash anything.• Could you drop off the kids on your way to work?• Could you have her call me back when she gets home, please?• Could you hear that all right?could easily• We could easily afford it, and you and Edith have always been close.• But this Strategy could easily backfire, since strenuous exercise would Simply produce more lactic acid, making the situation worse.• Further solutions could easily be obtained using this method.• And if you failed, no one noticed and you could easily disappear.• I could easily have become a scapegoat.• It surprised me but it could easily have been tiredness from being out so long.• The first meeting between these strangers could easily produce a shock that reverberated throughout the marriage.• This is a problem which the band themselves could easily solve by restructuring their media policy.could always• She could always claim this was a break period, but on the whole it was easier if her movements remained unobserved.• But he was right, I knew: they could always have another one.• Her remark that she could always have stayed home and made cookies has discomfited Republicans, not least Barbara Bush.• You could always hear the voice beneath the words.• They could always say that they were sick.• Calvin Smith, the world-record holder, could always spring a surprise.• He tried to keep it secret-how much it hurt-but I could always tell..• They could always write his lines on his shirt-cuff.could at least• If I made that kind of money, I figure I could at least afford a comb.• It is not that difficult to cobble together a budget that could at least appear to be balanced within five years.• Finally she says to me: You could at least clean that damn thing every once in a while.• He could at least cover his mouth.• You would think that with all the money I make, I could at least have a decent place to sleep.• I thought he could at least have tried new words.• Well, you could at least send a photograph.Origin could Old English cuthe, past tense of cunnan ( → CAN1); influenced by should and wouldcould modal verb →n GRAMMAR1LDOCE OnlineChinese
past used tense Corpus as of the
could
could S1 W1 /kəd; strong kʊd/
modal verb (negative short form couldn’t)1. PAST ABILITY used as the past tense of ‘can’ to say what someone was able to do or was allowed to do in the past:
By the time she was eight, she could read Greek and Latin.
In those days you could buy a box of cigars for a dollar.
Could you hear what I was saying?
I couldn’t get tickets after all, they were sold out.
I knew I couldn’t afford the rent.
The teacher said we could all go home.
2. POSSIBILITY
a. used to say that something is possible or might happen:
Most accidents in the home could be prevented.
It could be weeks before we get a reply.
If you’re not careful, you could get into even worse trouble.
A faulty connection could easily (=would be likely to) cause a fire.
b. used to say that something was a possibility in the past, but did not actually happen:
Somebody could have been killed.
I could have warned you if I had known where you were.
He could have escaped, but he chose to stand and fight.
3. EMPHASIZING YOUR FEELINGS spoken used to emphasize how happy, angry etc you are by saying how you want to express your feelings:
He irritates me so much I could scream.
I was so angry I could have killed her.
I was so relieved I could have kissed them all.
4. REQUESTING spoken used to make a polite request:
Could you help me with these boxes?
Could I have a drink of water, please?
How about Sam? Could he come along too?
I wonder if I could just ask you to sign this.
5. SUGGESTING used to suggest doing something:
You could ask your doctor for a check-up.
You could always try phoning her at the office.
Maybe we could get together sometime next week?
Couldn’t you get one of your friends to help you?
6. ANNOYANCE spoken used to show that you are annoyed about someone’s behaviour:
You could have told me you were going to be late (=you should have told me but you did not)__
You could at least say that you’re sorry.
How could you be so stupid__
7. couldn’t be better/worse/more pleased etc used to emphasize how good, bad etc something is:
Their lifestyles couldn’t be more different.
‘How are things?’ ‘Fine__ Couldn’t be better.’
Ordering online couldn’t be simpler.
8. I couldn’t British English spoken used to politely say that you do not want any more food or drink:
‘Would you like another piece of pie?’ ‘Oh, no thanks, I couldn’t.’
9. could do with something spoken to need or want something:
I could do with a hot drink.
⇨ could do worse (than) at worse1(5), ⇨ couldn’t care less at care2(5), ⇨ couldn’t agree more at agree(1)
could S1 W1 /kəd; strong kʊd/
modal verb (negative short form couldn’t)1. PAST ABILITY used as the past tense of ‘can’ to say what someone was able to do or was allowed to do in the past: 2. POSSIBILITY
a. used to say that something is possible or might happen:
b. used to say that something was a possibility in the past, but did not actually happen:
3. EMPHASIZING YOUR FEELINGS spoken used to emphasize how happy, angry etc you are by saying how you want to express your feelings:
4. REQUESTING spoken used to make a polite request:
5. SUGGESTING used to suggest doing something:
6. ANNOYANCE spoken used to show that you are annoyed about someone’s behaviour:
7. couldn’t be better/worse/more pleased etc used to emphasize how good, bad etc something is:
8. I couldn’t British English spoken used to politely say that you do not want any more food or drink:
9. could do with something spoken to need or want something:
⇨ could do worse (than) at worse1(5), ⇨ couldn’t care less at care2(5), ⇨ couldn’t agree more at agree(1)
Can is used to say that somebody knows how to do something.* can 表示懂得做 ：◆ Can you play the piano? 你会弹钢琴吗？ It is also used with verbs of seeing, noticing, etc. 该词亦与表示看见、注意到等的动词连用 ：◆ I can hear someone calling. 我听见有人在呼叫。 and with passive infinitives. 并与不定式的被动形式连用 ：◆ The podcast can be downloaded here. 播客可在此下载。 Can orbe able to are used to say that something is possible or that somebody has the opportunity to do something.* can 或 be able to 表示某事情有可能或某人有机会做某事 ：◆ Can you/are you able to come on Saturday? 你星期六能来吗？ You use be able to to form the future and perfect tenses and the infinitive.用 be able to 构成将来时、完成时和动词不定式 ：◆ You'll be able to get a taxi outside the station. 在车站外可搭乘出租车。 ◆ I haven't been able to get much work done today. 我今天未能干多少工作。 ◆ She'd love to be able to play the piano. 她很希望能弹钢琴。 Could is used to talk about what someone was generally able to do in the past.* could 表示过去通常能做 ：◆ Our daughter could walk when she was nine months old. 我们的女儿九个月大就会走路了。 You use was/were able to ormanage (but notcould ) when you are saying that something was possible on a particular occasion in the past.关于在过去特定情况下可能的事用 was/were able to 或 manage，但不用 could ：◆ I was able to/managed to find some useful books in the library. 我总算在图书馆找到了一些有用的书。 ◆ I could find some useful books in the library. In negative sentences, could not can also be used.否定句也可用 could not ：◆ We weren't able to/didn't manage to/couldn't get there in time. 我们未能及时赶到那儿。 Could is also used with this meaning with verbs of seeing, noticing, understanding, etc.亦可用 could 加表示看见、注意到、明白等的动词表示此义 ：◆ I could see there was something wrong. 我发觉出事了。 Could have is used when you are saying that it was possible for somebody to do something in the past but they did not try.表示过去有可能做某事但没有做，用 could have ：◆ I could have won the game but decided to let her win. 我本可以赢得那场比赛，但还是决定让她赢了。
The modal verbs arecan ,could ,may ,might ,must ,ought to ,shall ,should ,will andwould .Dare ,need ,have to andused to also share some of the features of modal verbs.* can、could、may、might、must、ought to、shall、should、will 和 would 均为情态动词。dare、need、have to 和 used to 亦具有情态动词的某些特性。 Modal verbs have only one form. They have no -ing or-ed forms and do not add-s to the 3rd person singular form.情态动词只有一种形式，没有 -ing 或 -ed 形式，第三人称单数也不加 -s ：◆ He can speak three languages. 他会说三种语言。 ◆ She will try and visit tomorrow. 她明天将设法去参观。 Modal verbs are followed by the infinitive of another verb without to . The exceptions areought to ,have to andused to .情态动词后跟不带 to 的动词不定式，但 ought to、have to 和 used to 例外 ：◆ You must find a job. 你必须找到一份工作。 ◆ You ought to stop smoking. 你应当戒烟。 ◆ I used to smoke but I gave up two years ago. 我过去抽烟，但两年前就戒了。 Questions are formed without do /does in the present, ordid in the past.疑问句现在时不用 do/does，过去时不用 did ：◆ Can I invite Mary? 我可以邀请玛丽吗？ ◆ Should I have invited Mary? 我本该邀请玛丽吗？ Negative sentences are formed with not or the short form-n't and do not usedo /does ordid .否定句用 not 或简约式 -n't，不用 do/does 或 did。
