Two jobs of could: past of can (I could swim at five) and politeness upgrade (Could you help me?)
I can use could for past abilities and to upgrade requests politely.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Grandpa could fix anything: radios, bikes, even the neighbours' arguments.
Grandpa could fix anything: radios, bikes, even the neighbours' arguments.
Could you pass the salt - and possibly the whole bread basket?
Could you pass the salt - and possibly the whole bread basket?
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Same word, two lives:
| Job | Example |
|---|---|
| past ability | I could read at four. She couldn't come yesterday. |
| polite request | Could you open the window? Could I borrow your pen? |
Politeness ladder: Can you...? (casual) → Could you...? (polite) → Could you possibly...? (very polite). Like all modals: no -s, no to, questions by inversion.
Apply this grammar in A2 course exercises
Practice ExercisesPolite could read as past
Context decides: request = now
to after could
Modal + bare infinitive
Grandpa could fix anything: radios, bikes, even the neighbours' arguments.
Grandpa could fix anything: radios, bikes, even the neighbours' arguments.
could = past ability across a list.
Could you pass the salt - and possibly the whole bread basket?
Could you pass the salt - and possibly the whole bread basket?
could + possibly: the politeness ladder in action.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A2 course exercises