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couldpast tense of 'can'; used to express ability or possibility in the past

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: past tense of 'can'; used to express ability or possibility in the past

Pronunciation (IPA): /kʊd/

Korean meaning: ~할 수 있었다 (과거의 능력)

Korean pronunciation: **쿠**드

Example Sentences

  • Could you turn down the music? My goldfish is trying to study.
  • I could speak French when I lived in Paris.
  • If I were rich, I could buy a private island for my cat.

could

VERB

//kʊd//

past tense of 'can'; used to express ability or possibility in the past

could concept
💡 Concept

She believed she could reach the summit before sunset.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/kʊd/
🇬🇧 UK/kʊd/

🌳Etymology

Origin

고대 영어 'cūþe'에서 유래. 'can'의 과거형으로 발달하여 현재는 정중함과 가능성을 표현하는 조동사가 되었다.

🎵Rhyme

goodwoodshouldwould
good
wood
should
would

🔗Collocations

could you please
I could be wrong
could have been
you could try
it could be
who could know

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

Could you turn down the music? My goldfish is trying to study.

I could speak French when I lived in Paris.

😄 Fun example

If I were rich, I could buy a private island for my cat.

Could this day get any worse?

📚Related Words

Synonyms

mightwouldshouldcan

Antonyms

cannotcouldn'twon't

Related

ablepossiblemaybeperhapsrequest

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