How to use could in a sentence

'Could' is used to express: possibility, past ability, and to make suggestions and requests. 'Could' is also used in conditional sentences as the conditional form of 'can'.

Possibility You could cause an accident driving like that.
Past ability Sarah could dance like a professional at the age of six.
Suggestion We could go to dinner after the movie.
Request Could I leave early today?
Conditional If you're not working tomorrow, we could go on a picnic.

'Could' like most modal verbs, is very different in the past and future. Here are some examples of its different forms:

Possibility

Present Danny could be the team leader /Danny couldn't be the team leader
Past Danny could have been team leader / Danny couldn't have been team leader
Future Danny could be the next team leader / Danny couldn't be the next team leader

'May' or 'might' are also possible in this situation.

Suggestion

Past We could have gone to a different restaurant.
Future We could go to a different restaurant next time.

There is no present form or negative form of could used in a suggestion.

Ability

Past I could read music when I was young. I couldn't read music when I was young.

'Could' is not used in positive sentences when a momentary ability is referred to:

I was able to fix the leaky pipe myself. Not; I could fix the pipe myself
In negative sentences for a momentary ability, 'could not' is possible:
I couldn't fix the leaky pipe myself.

Requests

Could I have a coffee?
Couldn't you explain this just one more time?

'Could' is used in more polite requests.
Requests usually refer to the near future. 'Can', 'may' and might are also used for polite requests.

It is important to remember that ‘could not’ is used when it is impossible for something to happen. ‘Might not’ is used if you don’t know if something happens.

David might not have the money. Maybe David does not have the money.
David couldn’t have the money. It is not possible that David has the money.

Lesson by Tristan, teacher at EC Malta English school

Now complete the following with the correct word:

• 1. It's a good thing I got my umbrella. I _ soaked.
  
• 2. _ you read that out again please? I didn't quite catch the street name.
  
• 3. Peter _ be the one who gave them the information. He would never do such a thing.
  
• 4. I _ understand every word of that Spanish film. I didn’t know I was that good at the language.
  
• 5. I _ hear my neighbours arguing from the end of the street, never mind my flat.
  
• 6. If you're free we _ go to the new cafe tomorrow.
  

Bookmark/Search this post with:

Let’s talk about using the modal verbs can and could. We all know how important it is to be able to express the ability or the possibility to do something in English, but if you learn English online, you know grammar can be tricky.

So can and could are modal auxiliary verbs that express an ability, permission, request, offer or opportunity. In this article, we’ll explore the differences between can and could, and how to use each.

Can vs. Could: Rules of use

Could as a past tense of Can

The verb could is, primarily, the past tense form of the word can. But it’s not just the past tense of can: it has other functions that the word can does not have, for example, in type 2 conditional sentences.

Examples:

•         She can speak Italian very well.
•         I could swim, but I couldn’t ride a bike when I was nine years old.
•         You can play with Amy after you do your homework.
•         Could I have some tea?
•         Can I carry your bags?
•         We could go somewhere tonight.
•         That can’t be true.
•         You could get there in time if you hurried up.

To express verbs of perception  

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

Examples:

•        Can you see the light over there?
•         When I entered the room, I could hear something scratching.
•         Harry put the keys in his pocket, but now he can’t find them.
•         We couldn’t understand what the stranger was saying.

To demonstrate general ability 

As a past tense form of the verb can, could is used to express general ability in past tense and indirect speech.

Examples:

•         He said he could get that ticket for me.
•         When I was younger, I could work out for two hours without stopping.

To command or request something

In requests, commands and sentences, it is considered more polite to use could than can.

Examples:

•         Do you think you could help me with this case?
•         Can I use your phone?
•         Could you do me a favour?
•         Do the urgent task first, and then you can check the rest.

To ask for a permission

When we ask for permission, it is better, of course, to use the verb can, since could is not used to give or deny consent.

Examples:

•         Can I trust you? – Of course, you can.
•         You can stay here if you want to.
•         Can I have another cup of coffee? – No, I’m afraid you can’t. You drank too much coffee.

If you want to learn more modal verbs and how to use them correctly, please check our article on the difference between shall vs should, and another one explaining in which cases to use the modal verbs must, have to, may, might.

If you got more questions on this topic, please feel free to ask them in our Questions and Answers section, and one of our expert tutors will get back to you with an explanation.

Could in a sentence example?

Can or could in a sentence?

Could and would Examples?