Talk:could

There's more that could be added to this entry - "Simple past of can" is the only definition we have - there are nuances of politeness here (i.e. "could you help me out" v. "can you help me out"), and there's no mention of its purpose as an auxiliary verb. An etymology and translations too, Compare with would and should, which are good pages. --Keene 14:20, 15 January 2008 (UTC)

Indeed, there could be many pagefuls of useful information here. This resembles the case of many of the "core topics" on Wikipedia, so fundamental and far-reaching that editors are intimidated by the prospect of even starting to work on proper coverage. Well anyway, I am. -- Visviva 15:20, 15 January 2008 (UTC)

The models are good, but it looks like an all-day effort (or more) for someone like me. I hope there are actual linguistic/grammar mavens willing to take this on. I suppose an amateur like me could offer up a "draft" for further work by my betters. DCDuring 18:11, 15 January 2008 (UTC)

Draft

You'd need at least 3:

 # {{simple past of|can}}
 #:''Before I was blind, I '''could''' see very well.''
 # Used to politely ask for [[permission]] to do something
 #:'''''Could''' I borrow your coat?''
 # Used to politely ask for someone else to do something
 #:'''''Could''' you proof-read this email?''

Resolved

Appendix for English Modal Verbs added 2015. Link is on the page. -- ALGRIF talk 19:18, 5 December 2019 (UTC)

couldn't

Could is used to talk about what someone was generally able to do in the past, Our daughter could walk when she was nine months old, but was/​were able to or managed (but not could) for a particular occasion:  I was able to/​managed to find useful books in the library.
Yet, in negative sentences could not can also be used: We weren’t able to/​didn’t manage to/​couldn’t get there in time.
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/could

--Backinstadiums (talk) 09:48, 18 November 2020 (UTC)

in interrogatives, could indicates willingness

Could you meet me at 7:00 pm? asks not just whether you’re able, can, but also willing. --Backinstadiums (talk) 09:28, 19 February 2021 (UTC)

Possibility that something was not the case

You do not use 'could not have' if it is possible that something was not the case, but might/may not have as in She mightn't have known what the bottle contained. If it isn't possible that something was the case, She couldn't have been drunk because she'd had hardly anything to drink. https://www.wordreference.com/EnglishUsage/might --Backinstadiums (talk) 06:34, 21 April 2022 (UTC)

She could have left her keys with J can refer to both possibility and ability: "J offered to look after them so she was able to leave them with him" or "It is possible that she left them with J (and that's why she can't find them now)". Only the second use of could can be replaced with might https://www.eltconcourse.com/training/inservice/modality/central_modal_verbs.html JMGN (talk) 15:11, 19 August 2023 (UTC)