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English grammar

could for the past and for asking

A2 · Elementary Verbs and time Questions 10

The rule

could is the past of can — what you were able to do: When I was ten I could swim. It is also the polite way to ask: Could you help me? Could I have the bill? In both uses the verb after it is plain, and there is no to.

Pattern

could + plain verb · could not + plain verb · Could you …? (a polite request)

Examples

  1. When I was ten I could swim very well.

  2. Could you help me with this form?

  3. I could not find a parking space.

  4. Could I have the bill, please?

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: Could you to open the window?

    Right: Could you open the window?

    could is never followed by to.

  • Wrong: I did not could come.

    Right: I could not come.

    could makes its own negative; it does not take did.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Fill in the gap.

    _____ you say that again, please?

    1. Do
    2. Did
    3. Are
    4. Could
    Show answer

    Answer: D Could you say that again, please?

    A polite request takes Could.

  2. 2Fill in the gap.

    I _____ not open the door with that key.

    1. could
    2. did
    3. was
    4. do
    Show answer

    Answer: A I could not open the door with that key.

    The past inability takes could not.

  3. 3Fill in the gap.

    Could I _____ your pen for a moment?

    1. to borrow
    2. borrowed
    3. borrowing
    4. borrow
    Show answer

    Answer: D Could I borrow your pen for a moment?

    No to after could.

  4. 4Fill in the gap.

    She _____ read before she started school.

    1. could
    2. can
    3. did
    4. was
    Show answer

    Answer: A She could read before she started school.

    A past ability takes could.

  5. 5Fill in the gap.

    _____ you tell me where the station is?

    1. Have
    2. Should
    3. Could
    4. Must
    Show answer

    Answer: C Could you tell me where the station is?

    A polite request takes Could.

  6. 6Choose the correct sentence.

    1. Could you closing the window, please?
    2. Could you to close the window, please?
    3. Do you could close the window, please?
    4. Could you close the window, please?
    Show answer

    Answer: D Could you close the window, please?

    could + plain verb.

  7. 7Choose the correct sentence.

    1. We did not could hear the announcement.
    2. We could not heard the announcement.
    3. We could not hear the announcement.
    4. We not could hear the announcement.
    Show answer

    Answer: C We could not hear the announcement.

    could not + plain verb, and no did.

  8. 8This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. He could to drive at eighteen.
    2. He could ride a bike at six.
    3. She could drive at eighteen.
    4. He could drive at eighteen.
    Show answer

    Answer: A He could to drive at eighteen.

    No to after could.

  9. 9This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. Could he come earlier?
    2. Could she come earlier?
    3. Could they come earlier?
    4. Could she came earlier?
    Show answer

    Answer: D Could she came earlier?

    After could the verb is plain.

  10. 10Put the words in the right order.

    Could you spell that for me

    Show answer

    Answer: Could you spell that for me?

    Could, subject, plain verb.

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