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modal verb · A2 · very often · UK/US

could

could

Meaning of could

past or polite form of can

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How important is this word
A2very often

could fits your vocabulary level. Check your level if you are not sure.

Pronunciation
British English/kʊd/
American English/kʊd/
could
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could with German translation

could usage examples

🇩🇪German🇬🇧English

Could you open the window, please?

🇩🇪German🇬🇧English

She could finish early today.

Learn by topic

could belongs to the topic "Top 300". Start with a short 7-word set so the word is easier to remember in context.

couldkonnte
cankönnen
willwerden
wouldwürde
shouldsollte
mustmüssen
maydürfen

could synonyms

Related word breakdowns

What's the difference between could / can / be able to / may / might / couldn't

🇬🇧English

present/present-general ability or permission; more direct than could

A1Very Often

I can swim.

🇬🇧English

expresses ability more explicitly than could; works in many tenses

A2Often

She was able to finish on time.

🇬🇧English

used for permission or possibility; sounds more formal than can

A2Often

You may leave now.

🇬🇧English

used for weaker possibility or polite suggestion; less definite than could

A2Often

It might rain later.

C
🇬🇧English
couldn't

negative form of could; inability or impossibility in the past/polite context

A2Very Often

I couldn't open the door.

W
🇬🇧English
was able to

successful ability in the past; emphasizes that the action was completed

A2Often

She was able to solve the problem.

M
🇬🇧English
managed to

means succeeded in doing something, often with effort or difficulty

A2Often

He managed to catch the train.

M
🇬🇧English
might have

past possibility or guess; weaker and less certain than could have

A2Often

She might have forgotten.

M
🇬🇧English
may have

past possibility or speculation; similar to might have, often slightly more formal

A2Often

They may have missed the bus.

What's the difference

Related words and lists for could

How to pronounce could and what this word means

could means could. This page includes translation, pronunciation, transcription, audio, usage examples and related words.

how to pronounce could

/kʊd/

could translation

could

could examples

Could you open the window, please?

could transcription

/kʊd/, /kʊd/

Questions about this word

could meaning: what does it mean?

past or polite form of can

could pronunciation: how do you pronounce it?

could is pronounced as /kʊd/. Audio is available on this page when the word has a recording.

could definition and sentence examples: how is it used in a sentence?

Could you open the window, please? Translation: Не могли бы вы открыть окно, пожалуйста?

Audio practiceExamplesSmart repeats

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