Modal verb could | Uses, examples and exercises

What is the modal verb could?

The modal verb could is a modal verb because it must always be followed by another verb with its own meaning in the infinitive form (without to). Could is the past or the conditional form of can and would translate as “was able to” or “knew how to”. It is usually used in the second conditional in English. The negative form of this modal verb is couldn’t and it carries the same meaning and uses as could. If you want to know how it is formed, keep reading.

Examples:

I could play the piano when I was five. (I was able to or knew how to play the piano when I was five years old).
My sister could ride her bike before she was seven. (My sister knew how to ride her bike before she turned seven years old).

Using could and couldn’t

The modal verb could has several functions. Below we will explain some of the uses of this modal verb in English.

Also, we will provide several examples so you can understand the different functions.

1. Ability in the past

When you want to talk about your abilities in the past; that is, to talk about everything you knew or could do, use could.

Examples:

I could swim when I was ten. (I knew how to swim when I was ten years old).
Could you play the piano when you were at school? (Did you know how to play the piano when you were in school?)

2. Politely asking for permission

If you want to politely or formally ask for permission, you also use could.

As we have seen before, to make a question the position of the subject and verb must be inverted. In this case, we translate could as the conditional form “Could”.

Examples:

Could you open the window, please? (Could you open the window, please?)
Could you lend me the book please? (Could you lend me the book, please?)
Could I have some water, please? (Could I have some water, please?)

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Structure of could in affirmative, negative and interrogative

Now that you know what the modal verb could, means, you can learn how to conjugate it. As you will see, it is very simple:

Could in affirmative

To form an affirmative sentence, first we place the subject, followed by the modal verb could and the main verb in infinitive form without to.

Subject + could + infinitive without to

Examples:

I could sing. (I was able to sing).
She could ride a horse. (She knew how to ride a horse).

Could in negative (Couldn’t)

To build a negative sentence, simply add the negative particle not to the modal verb could. You can also use the contraction couldn’t.

Subject + could not or couldn’t + infinitive without to

Examples:

I could not / couldn’t sing. (I couldn’t sing).
She couldn’t ride a horse.(She didn’t know how to ride a horse).

Interrogative form

If you want to ask a question, you must invert the position of the subject and the verb.

Could + subject + infinitive without to

Examples:

Could you sing when you were three? (Could you sing when you were three years old?)
Could you play the piano when you were a child? (Did you know how to play the piano when you were little?)

Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative
I could	I could not / couldn’t	Could I do?
You could	You could not / couldn’t	Could you do?
He could	He could not / couldn’t	Could he do?
She could	She could not / couldn’t	Could she do?
It could	It could not / couldn’t	Could it do?
We could	We could not / couldn’t	Could we do?
You could	You could not / couldn’t	Could you do?
They could	They could not / couldn’t	Could they do?

Sentences with could and couldn’t

I couldn’t say yes. (I couldn’t say yes).
He could have been a great lawyer. (He could have been a great lawyer).
We could do it, if we wanted to. (We could do it if we wanted to).
She couldn’t buy the car yesterday because her card didn’t work. (She couldn’t buy the car yesterday because her card didn’t work).
The heating could not be repaired. (The heating could not be repaired).
Could you swim when you were 2 years old? (Could you swim when you were two years old?).

Differences between could and was / were able to

It is important to differentiate between the modal verb could and the form was/were able to:

could is used to talk about a general ability in the past and, in contrast, the form was/were able to is used to refer to a specific situation in the past.
In the negative form we use couldn’t in all situations.

Example:

After all, they were able to help us with the homework. (After all, they were able to help us with the homework).
They were able to escape from the fire. (They were able to escape from the flames).

Click on the following link if you want to know the differences between could and may, might and can.

Exercises for the modal verb could

Exercises for the modal verbs could and couldn’t

A. Write the following sentences in the two missing forms (affirmative, negative or question).

His brother could run very fast.
Her father could cook well.
David couldn’t drive his car.
Your sister couldn’t concentrate at school.
Could her mother drive when she was 18?
Peter couldn’t speak English with his American friends.

B. Fill in the blanks with the verbs could and couldn’t:

Kate always had good coordination. She ______ dance very well when she was a child. (Kate always had good coordination. She knew how to dance very well when she was a child.)
______ you introduce him to your sisters? (Could you introduce him to your sisters?)
You ______ take your dog out for a walk. (You could take your dog out for a walk.)
Fifty years ago, people _______ use a computer. (Fifty years ago, people didn’t know how to use a computer.)
I don’t know how to do this. ______ you help me please? (I don’t know how to do this. Could you help me please?)
Be careful!. It ______ be dangerous. (Be careful! It could be dangerous.)
______ you stop doing that? It ‘s annoying! (Could you stop doing that? It’s annoying!)
Richard y Alberto ________ juggle when they were teenagers. (Richard and Alberto could juggle when they were teenagers.)
Alison _________ do a headstand when she was one year old. (Alison couldn’t do a handstand when she was one year old.)
_______ you please tell me where’s the nearest stationer? (Could you please tell me where’s the nearest stationery shop?)
He _______ cross the finish line. It was a pity! (He couldn’t cross the finish line. It was a pity!)
_________ you fax this document to the Head Office? (Could you fax this document to the Head Office, please?)

Exercise about the uses of the verb could

C. Decide what function the following sentences have: ability or permission?

1. Could you swim when you were a child?
2. Could you pass me the salt, please?
3. Could he read well when he was at primary school?

Practical exercise about could and the form was/were able to

D. Choose the correct option.

The car fell into the river, although the police _________ get it out. (were able to / could).
We had no keys, so we ______ open the door. (couldn’t / wasn’t able to).
A boy fell into the sea but luckily we ______ help him. (was able to / could / were able to).
_________________ ski when you were 10? (could you / were you able to).
We _________________ get to the meeting on time yesterday because there was a traffic jam. (couldn’t / weren’t able to).
It’s amazing, he _________________ speak 5 languages at the age of 12. (could / weren’t able to).
I ________________ to maneuver to avoid the accident. (was able to / could).

Exercise answers

Answers A

His brother couldn’t run very fast. Could his brother run very fast?
Her father couldn’t cook well. Could her father cook well?
David could drive his car Could David drive his car? Your sister could concentrate at school. Could your sister concentrate at school?
Her mother could drive when she was 18. Her mother couldn’t drive when she was 18.
Peter could speak English with his American friends. Could Peter speak English with his American friends?