Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [koo d; unstressed kuh d]
- /kʊd; unstressed kəd/
- /kəd/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [koo d; unstressed kuh d]
- /kʊd; unstressed kəd/
Definitions of could word
- modal verb could You use could to indicate that someone had the ability to do something. You use could not or couldn't to say that someone was unable to do something. 3
- modal verb could You use could to indicate that something sometimes happened. 3
- modal verb could You use could have to indicate that something was a possibility in the past, although it did not actually happen. 3
- modal verb could You use could to indicate that something is possibly true, or that it may possibly happen. 3
- modal verb could You use could not or couldn't to indicate that it is not possible that something is true. 3
- modal verb could You use could to talk about a possibility, ability, or opportunity that depends on other conditions. 3
Information block about the term
Parts of speech for Could
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
could popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 99% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
could usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for could
verb could
- might — physical strength: He swung with all his might.
- can — You use can when you are mentioning a quality or fact about something which people may make use of if they want to.
- may — the fifth month of the year, containing 31 days.
- make the grade — a degree or step in a scale, as of rank, advancement, quality, value, or intensity: the best grade of paper.
- make it — to bring into existence by shaping or changing material, combining parts, etc.: to make a dress; to make a channel; to make a work of art.
Top questions with could
- how much wood could a woodchuck chuck?
- how could this happen to me?
- what could possibly go wrong?
- what s the worst that could happen?
- the boy who could fly?
See also
Matching words
Was this page helpful?
Thank you for your feedback! Tell your friends about this page
Tell us why?