could — past 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/
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
She believed she could reach the summit before sunset.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Could derives from Old English cūþe, the past tense of 'can' (meaning 'to know' or 'to be able'). Over time, it evolved from a simple past tense form into a modal auxiliary verb expressing possibility, permission, and politeness in modern English.
Breakdown
cūþe (Old English past tense of 'can', originally meaning 'knew' or 'was able') → could (modern modal auxiliary expressing possibility and conditionality).
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“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 this day get any worse?”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.