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could [ kd, kəd ] CORE MEANING: a modal auxiliary verb used as the past tense of "can"
  My mother did the best she could for my brother and me.
She could perform on the trapeze.
His feet were so swollen that he could hardly walk.
We were so tired we couldn't stay awake. |
| Definition: |
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1. modal v expressing possibility: used to indicate that something is possibly true or happening in the future
She thinks that medical technology could be the field for her.
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2. modal v expressing request: used when making polite requests
Could you close the window please?
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3. modal v indicating possible past situation: used to indicate a possible situation in the past that did not happen
We could have gone.
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4. modal v expressing polite offer: used to make polite offers and suggestions
You could stay at my place.
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5. intransitive verb for emphasis: used in questions to emphasize strong feelings about something
How could you do that?
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| [ Old English cūþe, past tense of cunnan "know" (see can1); altered after should, would] |
