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1. (auxiliary verb.) could
(used to express possibility):
That could never be true.
2. could
(used to express conditional possibility or ability):
You could do it if you tried.
3. could
(used in making polite requests):
Could you open the door for me, please?
4. could
(used in asking for permission):
Could I borrow your pen?
5. could
(used in offering suggestions or advice):
You could ask for more information.
Etymology: (ME coude, OE cūthe; modern -l- (from would1, should ) first attested 1520–30)
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1. could
the past of can; indicates what sb was able to do
At ninety she could still play tennis.; Sorry, I couldn't hear you.
2. could
indicates sth is possible
changes that could improve life for the poor; It could rain, so take a coat.
3. could
used to ask for sth politely
Could I take one of these chairs?; Could you pass me the potatoes please?
4. could
used to make a suggestion
He could come in the car with me.; Couldn't we split the check between us?
5. could
could always
emphasizes a suggestion
You could always try calling them.
6. could
I could (have)
indicates how you feel like behaving
I was so relieved, I could have cried.; She makes me so mad - I could strangle her!
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| Definition of 'could' |
Webster Dictionary |
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1. could
of Can
2. could
was, should be, or would be, able, capable, or susceptible. Used as an auxiliary, in the past tense or in the conditional present
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Sense: past tense ofcan
They asked if I could drive a car; I said I couldn't; She asked if she could go.
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 Afrikaans: kon |
 Arabic: إسْـتَطاعَ |
 Bulgarian: можех |
 Brazilian: poder |
 Czech: mohl, mohl by |
 German: pret. von `können` |
 Danish: kunne |
 Spanish: pasado del verbo ``poder' |
 Estonian: võima |
 Farsi: توانستن |
 Finnish: voida |
 French: pouvoir |
 Hebrew: יָכוֹל |
 Hindi: प्रश्नवाचक क्या |
 Croatian: mogao, mogao bi |
 Hungarian: tud |
 Indonesian: dapat |
 Icelandic: geta |
 Italian: potere |
 Japanese: canの過去形 |
 Korean: can의 과거 |
 Lithuanian: galėjau, galėjai, galėjo |
 Malay: boleh |
 Dutch: kon |
 Norwegian: kunne |
 Persian: توانستن |
 Pashto: توانیدل |
 Portuguese: poder |
 Russian: могу (ли), может (ли) |
 Slovak: môcť, vedieť |
 Serbian: prošlo vreme gl. moći |
 Thai: กริยาช่องที่ 2 ของกริยาช่ |
 Turkish: ...-ebil(ir)(miy)di... |
 Taiwanese: can的過去式 |
 Ukrainian: могти, мати можливість |
 Urdu: سكنا |
 Vietnamese: chỉ sự cho phép |
 Chinese: can的过去式 |
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Definitions of could 
