· learn 8 expert ways to use could in english—past abilities, polite requests, regrets, and more—with real examples and clear practice tips. · we use could have to say that someone had the ability or opportunity to do something, but did not do it: · alex bregman has finally taken his name off the free agent market, agreeing to a three-year, $120 million deal with the boston red sox. Could is also used to talk about ability in the present, but it has a special meaning. If you say that someone could do something, you mean that they have the ability to do it, but they dont in fact … · learn the difference between can vs. · the astros are still searching for a left-handed hitting outfielder to join chas mccormick and jake meyers in the starting lineup, and buying low on alex verdugo with a one … Could expresses possibility, while would expresses certainty and intent. Definition of could modal verb in oxford advanced learners dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. A good way to remember the differences between these two words is simply to bring each word back to its root verb. She could have learned swahili, but she didnt want to. · alex bregman and the astros are far away from a reunion as the red sox could play a spoiler to sign the star slugger. · the boston red soxs hopes to increase marcelo mayers versatility could mean the team hopes to bring in another infielder. Master the word could in english: The meaning of could is —used in auxiliary function in the past, in the past conditional, and as an alternative to can suggesting less force or certainty or as a polite form in the present. Definitions, translations, synonyms, pronunciations, examples, and grammar insights - all in one complete resource. Could and how to use each of them in a sentence, with examples of each word used correctly. A simple past tense of can. See examples of could used in a sentence. Past simple of can, used to talk about what someone or something was able or allowed to do….