Could is one of the English modal verbs. This lesson shows you how to use the modal correctly. You can find modal verb exercises at the bottom of the page for practice.
Let’s start with the lesson.
Could is an important modal verb in English. It is used for ability, possibility, and requests.
Could for Ability
“Could” is the past tense of “can.” These modals are used to show ability.
Here are some examples:
Present: I can play guitar.
Past: I could play guitar when I was younger.
As a negative, it is “could not”. It is contracted as “couldn’t”.
Examples:
- I could not finish my work yesterday.
- I couldn’t swim when I was a child.
Could for Requests
“Could” is used to make polite requests. Here are some examples:
- Could you please pass the salt?
- Could you turn down the music?
Could for Possibility
Often, “could” is used to express a degree of possibility. For example:
- It could rain today, but I am not sure.
- That could be Tom’s brother. He looks like Tom.
“Could” is also used in the 2nd conditional and 3rd conditional to show possibility and ability.
Examples:
- If I had more money, I could buy a new car.
- If I were older I could drive. (Have the ability)
Could Exercises
Here are some modal verb tests that use could:
Modal Verbs for Ability Test
Modal Verbs for Possibility Test
Modal Verbs for Possibility Test 2