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Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ======Could====== =====Introduction===== <html><p><img height="132" id="352" style="width: 138px; height: 84px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/352_aba369815dc7bf003b5eb58e0e17a890.png"> <b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Could</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> you explain that again, please? </span></b><br> </p></html> =====Uses===== <html><table class="MsoTableLightListAccent1" style="border: currentColor; border-image: none; border-collapse: collapse; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-border-alt: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: -1; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes;"> <td width="319" valign="top" style="background: rgb(79, 129, 189); border-width: 1pt medium medium 1pt; border-style: solid none none solid; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 5;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: background1;'>Use</span></b></p></td> <td width="319" valign="top" style="background: rgb(79, 129, 189); border-width: 1pt 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid solid none none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 1;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: background1;'>Examples</span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 0;"> <td width="319" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>The past tense of <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">can</span> for ability</span></b></p></td> <td width="319" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 115%; vertical-align: middle; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could</span> play the piano when I was young but I can't now.</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>Could</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: rgb(42, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> <font color="#000000">you swim when you were a child?</font></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"> <td width="319" valign="top" style="border-width: medium medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none none solid; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>The past tense of 'can't' for possibility - <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">couldn't</span></span></b></p></td> <td width="319" valign="top" style="border-width: medium 1pt medium medium; border-style: none solid none none; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">couldn't</span> go to the party on Saturday because my parents were visiting.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;"> <td width="319" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>The past tense of <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">can</span> for permission</span></b></p></td> <td width="319" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>We <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">couldn't </span>leave early on Friday - the boss made us stay to finish the report.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;"> <td width="319" valign="top" style="border-width: medium medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none none solid; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Possibility now or in the future</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><span lang="EN-US" style='color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;'> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>Only the affirmative and interrogative forms are used. </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'><br></span></b></p></td> <td width="319" valign="top" style="border-width: medium 1pt medium medium; border-style: none solid none none; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>"Where's Lionel?"</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>"I'm not sure. He <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could</span> be in a meeting room - I'll have a look."</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>We <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could </span>play tennis tomorrow. </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; tab-stops: 87.0pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>Could </span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>we do this tomorrow or will you be busy?</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;"> <td width="319" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Polite requests - the same as <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">can</span> but a little more polite and formal</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>We can make this even more polite by using a sentence with a <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">question tag</span>. </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;'> </span></p></td> <td width="319" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Could</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> you lend me €20 till Friday?</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>You <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">couldn't</span> help me with this, <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could</span> you?</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;"> <td width="319" valign="top" style="border-width: medium medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none none solid; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Unrealistic situations</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;'> </span></p></td> <td width="319" valign="top" style="border-width: medium 1pt medium medium; border-style: none solid none none; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>I love this place - I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could</span> stay here forever.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">couldn't</span> work for your boss - he's far too demanding.<span style="color: red;"></span></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;"> <td width="319" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>As 'would be able to' in conditional sentences</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;'> </span></p></td> <td width="319" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>If we had more people available, we <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could</span> finish this by Friday.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>If we lived in the country, we <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">couldn't</span> go to the theatre as often as we do.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;"> <td width="319" valign="top" style="border-width: medium medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none none solid; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>With 'I wish'. This is an example of an unreal<span style="color: red;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">conditional</span><span style="color: red;"> </span>situation. </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;'> </span></p></td> <td width="319" valign="top" style="border-width: medium 1pt medium medium; border-style: none solid none none; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>I wish I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could</span> find another job - I'm so bored here.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 8;"> <td width="319" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>Suggestions</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><span lang="EN-US" style='color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p></td> <td width="319" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>"Where do you want to eat tonight?"</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>"We <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could</span> go to the pub as usual or how about trying that new Chinese place?"</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><br></p></html> =====The present continuous===== <html><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>Could </span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>can also be followed by the <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">present continuous</span> when talking about possibility. For example:</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>They <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could</span> be having lunch now; it's half past twelve. </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>Gilbert<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);"> could</span> be taking the train to the airport tomorrow. Or maybe he'll drive there as usual. [present continuous for future plans]</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'></span></b><br> </p></html> ====='Could' or 'can' for possibility===== <html><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: -36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;'><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style='font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;'> </span></span></span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(112, 48, 160); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Can</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> is more certain and realistic:</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;'></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: -36pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2cm; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.55pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>We <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">can</span> discuss it with Nick when we see him next week.</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2cm; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.55pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>[We know we're going to see Nick and maybe he's already agreed to discuss this issue.]</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: -36pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.55pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Could </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>expresses some doubt: </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: -36pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2cm; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>We <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could</span> discuss it with Nick next time we see him. <span style="color: rgb(0, 176, 80);"></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2cm; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>[This is possible but there is no plan to do this. It is more like a suggestion.] <span style="color: rgb(0, 176, 80);"></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2cm; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: -36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;'><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style='font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;'> </span></span></span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Could</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> is used for hypothetical possibility whereas <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">can</span> reflects a general possibility: </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;'></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: -36pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2cm; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>It <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could</span> be a mistake to invest in this kind of project. </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2cm; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>[If we choose to invest, it might go well and it might not.]</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2cm; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2cm; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>It <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">can</span> be a mistake to invest in this kind of project. </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2cm; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>[It is sometimes a mistake to do this.]</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: -36pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: -36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;'><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style='font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;'> </span></span></span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>We use 'can't' rather than <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">couldn't </span>to express something that is theoretically or actually impossible:</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: -36pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2cm; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>She can't be working late - her shop closes at 17.30.</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2cm; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>He can't finish the report this afternoon - he's gone to a meeting.</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2cm; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></b> </p><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: -36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;'><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"></span></span><strong> </strong></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: -36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span><span><strong>4.<span style='font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;'> </span>We use <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could</span> when something is possible now or in the future:</strong></span></span></p></span> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: -36pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><strong></strong></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2cm; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span><strong> </strong></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2cm; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><strong>She can't be working late - her shop closes at 17.30.</strong></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2cm; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2cm; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>This <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could</span> be our best solution but I'm not sure yet.</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2cm; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>I don't know when the strike will finish but it <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could</span> be any time now.</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2cm; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></b><br></p></html> ====='Could' for permission===== <html><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>When we talk about permission to do something in the past, we can use <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could </span>or 'was allowed to': </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>When I lived in this town, we <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could</span>/were allowed to park in the High Street.</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: 36pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>But if we mention one particular occasion, we are more likely to use 'was allowed to':</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>It was an emergency so he was allowed to park there for two hours. </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: 36pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: rgb(0, 176, 80); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>In negative sentences, <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">couldn't </span>or 'wasn't allowed to' can be used in either situation:</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>When we were children, we <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">couldn't</span>/weren't allowed to play in the park after 7pm.</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: 36pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>We had a lot of extra work last week so we <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">couldn't</span>/weren't allowed to leave early. </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: 36pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></b><br></p></html> ====='Could' or 'was able to' for ability===== <html><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>'Was able to' is an alternative to <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could</span> as the past tense of <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">can</span>. Sometimes they are interchangeable but there are situations in which one of them is preferred or only one is correct.</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: -36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;'><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style='font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;'> </span></span></span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Could </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>is more likely to be used with some <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">stative verbs</span>:</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: -36pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2cm; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Could</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> you understand him? </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2cm; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">couldn't</span> believe what she told me!</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2cm; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">couldn't </span>think why she did that.</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: -36pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: -36pt; vertical-align: middle; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: -36pt; vertical-align: middle; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style='font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;'> </span></span></span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>Could </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>is more likely to be used for general ability, although 'was able to' is also possible but if we talk about a specific incident or achievement, we only use 'was able to':</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: -36pt; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2cm; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>We miss having Stuart in the office - he <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could</span>/(was able to) fix any IT problem.</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2cm; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>All our computers crashed yesterday but Barney was able to fix the problem.</span></b><br> <br></p></html> ====='Could' or 'may/might' for possibility===== <html><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>For possibility, <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could</span> and<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">might</span>/<span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">may</span> and are not always interchangeable because <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could</span><span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);"> </span>has two meanings:</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; text-indent: -18pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;'><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style='font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;'> </span></span></span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>'C<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">an achieve - able to be done or achieved, or able to exist' </span></span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>The three words are <u>not</u> interchangeable when we are talking about possibility in this way:</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 72pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>"We <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could</span> play tennis today" = all the right conditions exist - we have enough time, we have a tennis court nearby, etc. We have the ability to play if we want to. <span style="color: red;"></span></span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 72pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>"We <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">might</span>/<span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">may</span> play tennis today" = we are considering playing tennis but we are not sure. </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; text-indent: -18pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;'><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2. <span style='font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;'> </span></span></span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>'Not certain - <span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">that might or might not happen' </span></span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 1cm; text-indent: -1cm; tab-stops: 1.0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here, they <u>are</u> interchangeable. In these sentences, we could also use 'maybe' or</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 1cm; text-indent: -1cm; tab-stops: 1.0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>'perhaps'.</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 1cm; text-indent: -1cm; tab-stops: 1.0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>For example, the following sentences all have the same meaning - there is a possibility </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>that John is in the boardroom: </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 72pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>John <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could</span><span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);"> </span>be in the boardroom.</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 72pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>John <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">might</span> be in the boardroom.</span></b></p><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 72pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><strong>John <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">may</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);"> </span>be in the boardroom.</strong></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 72pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><strong>Maybe John is in the boardroom.</strong></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 72pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><strong>Perhaps John is in the boardroom.</strong></span> </p></span><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 72pt;"><br></p></html> =====Examples===== <html><p><img height="222" id="537" style="width: 77px; height: 97px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/537_7ce223ce3cabcaadbf2ab8d5725b0107.jpg"> <b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>She <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">couldn't </span>play tennis with her friends last summer.</span></b></p><p><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><img height="224" id="1130" style="width: 75px; height: 114px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/1130_7bceb28f6fa0b4d9f6e77d903b08a3bd.png"> </span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'>When I was a teenager, I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could </span>stay out late at weekends but I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">couldn't </span>go out with my friends on school nights.</span></span></b></p><p><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'></span></span></b> <span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'><strong><img height="116" id="574" style="width: 90px; height: 76px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/574_d8f914a4522b00d460aa0230ef4772ff.jpg"> <span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>"Where do you want to go?" </span></strong></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'><strong>"We <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could</span> go to the cathedral - it's not far. Or we <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could </span>have lunch first and do that later."</strong></span></p><p><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'><strong><img height="149" id="37" style="width: 81px; height: 91px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/37_cd9c516e8743ce30511ca145fee45227.jpg"> </strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);"><strong>Could</strong></span><strong> you take me to the station, please?</strong></span></p><p><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);"><strong><img height="196" id="538" style="width: 81px; height: 100px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/538_e60edf28858c547258433c98d71fa9e1.jpg"> <span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'><font color="#000000">I wish I </font><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could</span><font color="#000000"> play the piano but I don't have time to learn. </font></span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);"><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'><strong><img height="93" id="219" style="width: 96px; height: 66px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/219_67b7ea4a8c1dc1738f23dfb088cffa20.jpg"> </strong><span><strong><font color="#000000">It</font><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);"> could</span><font color="#000000"> be raining this weekend. Shall we postpone the barbecue?</font></strong> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br></p></html> =====Some common expressions===== <html><table class="MsoTableLightListAccent1" style="border: currentColor; border-image: none; border-collapse: collapse; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-border-alt: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-irow: -1; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes;"><td width="213" valign="top" style="background: rgb(79, 129, 189); border-width: 1pt medium medium 1pt; border-style: solid none none solid; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themecolor: accent1;"><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 5;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: background1;'>Expression</span></b></p></td><td width="213" valign="top" style="background: rgb(79, 129, 189); border-width: 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid none none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themecolor: accent1;"><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 1;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: background1;'>Meaning</span></b></p></td><td width="213" valign="top" style="background: rgb(79, 129, 189); border-width: 1pt 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid solid none none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1;"><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 1;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: background1;'>Examples</span></b></p></td></tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 0;"><td width="213" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>'<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">couldn't </span>help' + <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">gerund</span>/'it'</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></b></p></td><td width="213" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt medium; border-style: solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1;"><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>Used to talk about something we <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">couldn't </span>prevent or stop ourselves doing.</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>With 'noticing', it suggests an apology for making a personal comment that might not be appreciated.</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p></td><td width="213" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>I tried to stay awake until the end of the meeting but I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">couldn't</span> help falling asleep.</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">couldn't</span> help noticing that you're not getting on well with the new manager - what's the problem? </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p></td></tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"><td width="213" valign="top" style="border-width: medium medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none none solid; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent1;"><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>subject<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>+ '<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could</span> always' + <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">bare infinitive</span></span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Note that </span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>'always' does not have its usual meaning in this expression. <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);"></span></span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: red; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p></td><td width="213" valign="top" style="padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border: rgb(240, 240, 240); border-image: none; width: 159.6pt; background-color: transparent;"><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>To make a suggestion. </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Sometimes the word 'always' adds little extra meaning but it can be used when offering a different or alternative suggestion, often an easy option - a way of saying 'don't forget about...'<span style="color: rgb(0, 176, 80);"> </span></span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: rgb(0, 176, 80); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p></td><td width="213" valign="top" style="border-width: medium 1pt medium medium; border-style: none solid none none; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1;"><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>"My computer's crashed."</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>"Why don't you call the helpdesk?"</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>"I did but they're busy."</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>"Well you <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could </span>always try rebooting it - that usually works for me."</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>"Let's have something simple for dinner - I don't feel like cooking."</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>"Well, we <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">could</span> always go out if you prefer." </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p></td></tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;"><td width="213" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>subject + '<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">couldn't </span>be bothered' (+ <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">infinitive</span> or<span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);"> gerund</span>)</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: red; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p></td><td width="213" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt medium; border-style: solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1;"><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>To indicate a lack of motivation.</span></b></p></td><td width="213" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>I wish I'd finished this yesterday but I was tired and I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">couldn't</span> be bothered.</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>This casserole should have garlic in it but I didn't have any and I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">couldn't</span> be bothered to go/going out for some.</span></b></p></td></tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;"><td width="213" valign="top" style="border-width: medium medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none none solid; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent1;"><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>subject + '<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">couldn't</span> care less' </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: red; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p></td><td width="213" valign="top" style="padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border: rgb(240, 240, 240); border-image: none; width: 159.6pt; background-color: transparent;"><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>To show that we do not care at all about something.</span></b></p></td><td width="213" valign="top" style="border-width: medium 1pt medium medium; border-style: none solid none none; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1;"><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>He <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">couldn't</span> care less if he upsets people - he's so insensitive.</span></b></p></td></tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;"><td width="213" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Could</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> it be that..?</span></b></p></td><td width="213" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt medium; border-style: solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1;"><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Is it possible that..?</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>It can be used for past, present or future situations.</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><br></span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>It is sometimes used in a sarcastic way.</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p></td><td width="213" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Could </span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>it be that I was wrong about him?</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Could</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> it be that I'm finally beginning to understand this?</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Could</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> it be that we'll actually finish on time today?! </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p></td></tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;"><td width="213" valign="top" style="border-width: medium medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none none solid solid; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1;"><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>subject + '<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">couldn't</span> believe' + object</span></b></p></td><td width="213" valign="top" style="border-width: medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none solid; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1;"><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>To express surprise.</span></b></p></td><td width="213" valign="top" style="border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1;"><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>He <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">couldn't </span>believe it when his boss told him he was fired.</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>She <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">couldn't</span> believe what she heard about him.</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> <br></p></html> [[en:grammar:home|{{ :file_-_back_3_.png?150 }}]]