modal verb · A2 · Very Often · both

could

мочь

Meaning of could

past or polite form of can

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A2Very Often

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Pronunciation
EN-UK/kʊd/
EN-US/kʊd/
could
could - мочь
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could with Russian translation

could usage examples

🇩🇪DE🇬🇧EN

Could you open the window, please?

🇩🇪DE🇬🇧EN

She could finish early today.

Learn by topic

could belongs to the topic "Top 300". Start with a short 7-word set so the word is easier to remember in context.

couldkonnte
cankönnen
willwerden
ought-
wouldwürde
shouldsollte
mustmüssen

could synonyms

Related words worth learning together

can
present/present-general ability or permission; more direct than could
be able to
expresses ability more explicitly than could; works in many tenses
may
used for permission or possibility; sounds more formal than can
might
used for weaker possibility or polite suggestion; less definite than could
couldn't
negative form of could; inability or impossibility in the past/polite context
Learn 5 related words for free
🇬🇧en

present/present-general ability or permission; more direct than could

A1Very Often

I can swim.

🇬🇧en

expresses ability more explicitly than could; works in many tenses

A2Often

She was able to finish on time.

🇬🇧en

used for permission or possibility; sounds more formal than can

A2Often

You may leave now.

🇬🇧en

used for weaker possibility or polite suggestion; less definite than could

A2Often

It might rain later.

C
🇬🇧en
couldn't

negative form of could; inability or impossibility in the past/polite context

A2Very Often

I couldn't open the door.

W
🇬🇧en
was able to

successful ability in the past; emphasizes that the action was completed

A2Often

She was able to solve the problem.

M
🇬🇧en
managed to

means succeeded in doing something, often with effort or difficulty

A2Often

He managed to catch the train.

M
🇬🇧en
might have

past possibility or guess; weaker and less certain than could have

A2Often

She might have forgotten.

M
🇬🇧en
may have

past possibility or speculation; similar to might have, often slightly more formal

A2Often

They may have missed the bus.

What’s the difference

Related words and lists for could

Questions about this word

could meaning: what does it mean?

past or polite form of can

could pronunciation: how do you pronounce it?

could is pronounced as /kʊd/. Audio is available on this page when the word has a recording.

could definition and sentence examples: how is it used in a sentence?

Could you open the window, please? Translation: Не могли бы вы открыть окно, пожалуйста?

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