couldverb
ukstrong /kʊd/weak /kəd/usstrong /kʊd/weak /kəd/could verb (CAN)
A2 past simple of "can", used to talk about what someone or something was able or allowed to do:
More examples
- She walked off before I could say anything.
- I could never have achieved this without the encouragement of my husband and family.
- I could see by the look on their faces that something was wrong.
- I wish I could find (the) time to do more reading.
- Even when you win a match you always feel you could have played better.
couldmodal verb
ukstrong /kʊd//kəd/us/kʊd//kəd/could modal verb (PERMISSION)
B1 used as a more polite form of "can" when asking for permission:
More examples
- Could I borrow your pen?
- Could we see her now, please?
- Could I have some more pudding?
- Could I use your bathroom, please?
- Could I leave the children with you this morning?
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Polite expressions
- actually
- after
- allow
- by all means idiom
- chance
- disrespect
- don't mention it! idiom
- excuse
- forgive
- good
- honour
- might I ask/inquire/know idiom
- no problem idiom
- obliged
- pardon
- perhaps
- place
- pleasure
- problem
- welcome
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could modal verb (REQUEST)
A2 used as a more polite form of "can" when asking someone to provide something or do something:
More examples
- Please could you explain why you're so late.
- I'm frozen - could you close the window?
- I've got rather a full week next week - could we postpone our meeting?
- If you could get that report finished by Thursday I'd be very grateful.
- Ben, could you hand round the biscuits?
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Making appeals & requests
- a cry for help idiom
- appellate
- application
- apply
- ask for sb
- beseech
- besiege
- besought
- bum
- cri de coeur
- crowdsource
- freeloader
- gateway
- hit sb up
- I'll thank you to do sth idiom
- pester
- petition
- request
- scrounge
- sponge
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could modal verb (POSSIBILITY)
B1 used to express possibility, especially slight or uncertain possibility:
More examples
- Passengers could face long delays.
- The temperature could fall below zero overnight.
- You could be the Queen of England, for all I care - you're not coming in here without a ticket.
- Anything could happen in the next half hour.
- It is not inconceivable that she could be lying.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Possible and probable
- always
- anything's possible idiom
- arguably
- as never before idiom
- avenue
- lean
- lean towards sth
- liable
- likelihood
- likely
- maybe
- realm
- sporting chance
- stand
- strange
- stranger things have happened idiom
- strong
- ten
- ten to one idiom
- vista
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could modal verb (SUGGESTION)
B1 used for making a suggestion:
More examples
- You could offer to buy her a new one.
- Could you get a bigger house?
- We could try mending it with glue.
- I could look after Toby for you.
- We could have lunch one day.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Suggestions & proposals
- about
- float
- get at sth
- grab
- hint
- how about...? idiom
- how does... grab you? idiom
- how/what about...? idiom
- indication
- it wouldn't hurt you to do sth idiom
- move
- offer
- on the table idiom
- point sb towards/in the direction of sth idiom
- posit
- postulate
- proposal
- put
- put ideas into sb's head idiom
- table
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could modal verb (SHOULD)
used for saying, especially angrily, what you think someone else should do:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Duty, obligation and responsibility
- accountable
- answer for sb/sth
- answer for sth
- answer to sb
- answerable
- commitment
- fail
- have sth on your hands idiom
- I am not my brother's keeper idiom
- in the hot seat idiom
- incharge
- it's your own lookout idiom
- portfolio
- responsibility
- responsible
- risk
- saddle sb with sth
- shoulder
- social contract
- stick
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