| 单词 | could |
| 释义 | could —could STRONG /kʊd/ WEAK /kəd/ modal verb (PERMISSION) ► B1 used as a more polite form of 'can' when asking for permission: » Could I speak to Mr Davis, please?» Excuse me, could I just say something?Thesaurus+: ↑Polite expressions• • • Extra Examples:» Could I borrow your pen?» Could we see her now, please?» Could I have some more pudding?» Could I use your bathroom, please?» Could I leave the children with you this morning?modal verb (POSSIBILITY) ► B1 used to express possibility, especially slight or uncertain possibility: » A lot of crime could be prevented.» She could arrive anytime now.» This new drug could be an important step in the fight against cancer.» Be careful with that stick - it could have gone in my eye!Thesaurus+: ↑Possible and probable• • • Extra Examples:» Passengers could face long delays.» The temperature could fall below zero overnight.» You could be the Queen of England, for all I care - you're not coming in here without a ticket.» Anything could happen in the next half hour.» It is not inconceivable that she could be lying.modal verb (REQUEST) ► A2 used as a more polite form of 'can' when asking someone to provide something or do something: » Could you lend me £5?» Could you possibly turn that music down a little, please?Thesaurus+: ↑Making appeals and requests• • • Extra Examples:» Please could you explain why you're so late.» I'm frozen - could you close the window?» I've got rather a full week next week - could we postpone our meeting?» If you could get that report finished by Thursday I'd be very grateful.» Ben, could you hand round the biscuits?modal verb (SHOULD) ► F0 used for saying, especially angrily, what you think someone else should do: » Well, you could try to look a little more enthusiastic!» I waited ages for you - you could have said that you weren't coming!Thesaurus+: ↑Duty, obligation and responsibilitymodal verb (SUGGESTION) ► B1 used for making a suggestion: » We could go for a drink after work tomorrow, if you like.» You could always call Susie and see if she will babysit.Thesaurus+: ↑Suggestions and proposals• • • Extra Examples:» You could offer to buy her a new one.» Could you get a bigger house?» We could try mending it with glue.» I could look after Toby for you.» We could have lunch one day.verb (CAN) ► A2 PAST SIMPLE OF can, used to talk about what someone or something was able or allowed to do: » When I was younger I could stay up all night and not get tired.» It was so noisy that we couldn't hear ourselves speak.» You said we could watch television when we've finished our homework.» We asked if the computer could access the internet.• • • Extra Examples:» She walked off before I could say anything.» I could never have achieved this without the encouragement of my husband and family.» I could see by the look on their faces that something was wrong.» I wish I could find (the) time to do more reading.» Even when you win a match you always feel you could have played better.Common mistake: could! Could is followed by an infinitive verb without 'to'.! Don't say 'could to do something', say could do something:✗ We're glad you could to come to our party.» We're glad you could come to our party. |
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