The meaning of COULD is —used in auxiliary function in the past, in the past conditional, and as an alternative to can suggesting less force or certainty or as a polite form in the present. How to use …

COULD definition: 1. past simple of "can", used to talk about what someone or something was able or allowed to do…. Learn more.

Could is also used to talk about ability in the present, but it has a special meaning. If you say that someone could do something, you mean that they have the ability to do it, but they don't in fact do it.

We use could have to say that someone had the ability or opportunity to do something, but did not do it: She could have learned Swahili, but she didn't want to.

could meaning, definition, what is could: used as the past tense of ‘can’ to say w...: Learn more.

'Could' is a modal auxiliary verb used to express possibility, ability, or permission in the past. It plays a significant role in conveying various meanings depending on context, such as suggesting …

Apr 9, 2025 · Learn 8 expert ways to use could in English—past abilities, polite requests, regrets, and more—with real examples and clear practice tips.

Mar 23, 2023 · Learn the difference between can vs. could and how to use each of them in a sentence, with examples of each word used correctly.

Could definition: a simple past tense of can.. See examples of COULD used in a sentence.

The English modal auxiliary verbs are a subset of the English auxiliary verbs used mostly to express modality, properties such as possibility and obligation. [a] They can most easily be distinguished from …