ASSIGNMENT 10: COULD, COULDN'T
Due Date: March 11
Read the explanation:
Could is an auxiliary verb, a modal auxiliary verb. We use
could to:
- talk about past possibility or ability
- make requests
Structure of could
subject |
+ |
auxiliary verb
could |
+ |
main verb |
The main verb is always the bare infinitive (infinitive without
to).
|
subject |
auxiliary verb could |
main verb |
+ |
My grandmother |
could |
swim. |
- |
She |
could not |
walk. |
couldn't |
? |
Could |
your grandmother |
swim? |
Notice that:
- Could is invariable. There is only one form: could
- The main verb is always the bare infinitive.
The main verb is always the bare infinitive (infinitive without to). We cannot say: I could to play tennis.
Use of could
could for past possibility or ability
We use
could to talk about what was possible in the past, what we were able or free to do:
- I could swim when I was 5 years old.
- My grandmother could speak seven languages.
- When we arrived home, we could not open the door. (...couldn't open the door.)
- Could you understand what he was saying?
Print and complete by hand the following sheet:
Exercise