could
gb/kˈʊd/ us/kˈʊd/
A2
Kiingereza
~ 100
tud, -hat/-het, lehet, -hatna/-hetne
KITENZI
A2
1
Muundo wa matumizi:
[someone] could [verb]
When I was younger, I could run five miles without stopping.
Fiatalabb koromban öt mérföldet tudtam futni megállás nélkül.
We could see the mountains from our hotel room.
A hotelszobánkból látni lehetett a hegyeket.
It could rain later, so bring an umbrella.
She could speak three languages fluently.
This plan could work if everyone helps.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
I could swim when I was six.
Hatéves koromban már tudtam úszni.
We could play outside after lunch.
Ebéd után kint játszhattunk.
He could read very fast.
It could snow tomorrow.
They could come to the party.
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes confuse 'could' for ability in the past with 'can' for present ability.
Maana
Express past ability or possibility
Miunganiko ya maneno
could be
|could have
|could go
|could happen
|could see
Visawe
was able to (More formal and specific about past ability; not used for hypothetical situations)
Vinyume
could not (Indicates inability or impossibility)
Mada
daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Ufafanuzi
Used to say that someone was able to do something before, or that something is possible.
Used to express that someone was able to do something in the past, or that something was possible.
KITENZI
A2
2
tud
A2
Muundo wa matumizi:
Could [someone] [verb]?
Could you pass me the salt, please?
Ide tudnád adni a sót, kérlek?
Could we meet tomorrow afternoon?
Találkozhatnánk holnap délután?
Could I borrow your book for a week?
You could try restarting your computer.
Could you tell me the time?
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
Could you help me?
Tudnál segíteni?
Could we sit here?
Leülhetnénk ide?
Could I use your phone?
You could take the bus.
Could you open the window?
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners may forget to use 'please' in polite requests with 'could'.
Maana
Make polite request or suggestion
Miunganiko ya maneno
could you please
|could we
|could I ask
|could you tell me
Visawe
would you mind (Even more polite and formal)
Mada
communication
|social interaction
|core_vocabulary
Ufafanuzi
Used to ask someone politely to do something or to give an idea.
Used to politely ask someone to do something or to suggest a possibility.
KITENZI
B1
3
Muundo wa matumizi:
[something] could [verb]
The train could be late due to the weather.
A vonat az időjárás miatt késhet.
This medicine could help you feel better.
Ez a gyógyszer segíthet, hogy jobban érezd magad.
We could see some changes next year.
It could be dangerous to go alone.
The meeting could last for hours.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
It could rain today.
Ma eshet az eső.
This could be my book.
Ez lehet az én könyvem.
He could come later.
The bus could be late.
She could get sick.
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes confuse 'could' with 'should' when giving advice versus expressing possibility.
Maana
Express uncertainty about events
Miunganiko ya maneno
could be true
|could happen soon
|could take a while
Visawe
might ('Might' is often interchangeable but sometimes suggests slightly less likelihood)
Vinyume
will (Indicates certainty rather than possibility)
Mada
daily life
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Ufafanuzi
Used to talk about something that might happen now or later.
Used to say that something is possible but not certain now or in the future.
KITENZI
B1
4
tud
B1
Muundo wa matumizi:
[someone] could [verb] if [condition]
I could help you if I had more time.
Segíthetnék neked, ha több időm lenne.
We could win if we practice hard.
Nyerhetnénk, ha keményen gyakorolnánk.
She could pass the exam if she studied more.
They could travel more if they saved money.
He could fix it if he had the right tools.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
I could buy it if I had money.
Megvehetném, ha lenne pénzem.
We could go if it is sunny.
Elmehetnénk, ha sütne a nap.
She could come if she finishes work.
He could play if he feels better.
They could eat if they are hungry.
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes forget to include the condition when using conditional 'could'.
Maana
Express hypothetical situations
Miunganiko ya maneno
could win if
|could happen if
Visawe
would be able to (More explicit about conditional ability)
Mada
communication
|core_vocabulary
Ufafanuzi
Used to say something is possible if something else happens first.
Used for situations that are possible only if certain conditions are met.
Sarufi
Umbo la kamusi
could
IPA
GB/kˈʊd/
US/kˈʊd/
Silabi na mkazo
could (silabi 1)
Stress on 1st syllable (could)
Maumbo ya neno
Verb
- Base: could
- 3rd Person Singular: coulds
- Present Participle: coulding
- Past: coulded
- Past Participle: coulded
Familia ya neno
Forms
coulds
verb
coulding
verb
coulded
verb
Related words
can
verb A1
Negative and opposite forms
couldn't
verb A2
Semi
as cold as ice could be
1/ˈæz kˈoʊld ˈæz ˈaɪs kˈʊd bˈi/
idiom
literary
Extremely cold like ice
Very, very cold, like ice.
Mifano
- Her hands were as cold as ice could be after walking in the snow.
- The water was as cold as ice could be.
could have been
1/kˈʊd hˈæv bˈɪn/
fixed phrase
Possible but unrealized past situation
Used to say something was possible in the past but did not happen.
Mifano
- I could have been a doctor if I had studied harder.
- It could have been worse after the accident.
couldn't care less
1/kˈʊdənt kˈɛɹ lˈɛs/
idiom
informal
Not care at all about something
To not care at all about something; to have no interest in it.
Mifano
- I couldn't care less about what they think.
- She couldn't care less about fashion trends.
couldn't care less
2/kˈʊdənt kˈɛɹ lˈɛs/
idiom
informal
have no interest/concern at all
To not be interested in or worried about something at all.
Mifano
- I couldn't care less about sports.
- She couldn't care less what they think.