/kəd; kəd; strong form 强读式 kʊd; kud/
modal v (neg 否定式 could not, contracted form 缩约式 couldn't/ 5kUdnt; `kJdnt/)
1 (indicating permission 表示允准)
*Could I use your phone? 让我用一下你的电话好吗?
* Could I borrow your bicycle? 我可以借一下你的自行车吗?
* Could I come round next week? 我下星期来拜访好吗? =>Usage
1 at may1 见may11项.
2 (indicating requests 表示请求)
*Could you baby-sit for us on Friday? 星期五你替我们照看小孩行吗?
* Could you type one more letter before you go? 你临走以前再打一封信行吗?
* Do you think I could have a cigarette? 我可以吸支香烟吗?
3 (indicating result 表示结果)
*I'm so unhappy I could weep. 我难过得要哭.
* What's for dinner? I could eat a horse. 吃什么饭? 我饿得要命.
4 (indicating possibility 表示可能性)
*You could be right, I suppose. 我想可能是你对.
* My wife's in hospital our baby could arrive at any time. 我妻子住进了医院--我们的小宝宝随时都可能出生.
* Don't worry they could have just forgotten to phone. 别担心--他们很可能只是忘了打电话.
* Somebody must have opened the cage the lion couldn't have escaped on its own. 一定是有人打开了笼子--因为狮子是不可能自己跑出来的.
* You could at least have sent a card, ie It was possible but you didn't do it. 你本来至少可以寄张明信片来吧. =>Usage
2 at may1 见may12项.
5 (indicating suggestions 表示建议)
*We could write a letter to the headmaster. 我们不妨给校长写封信.
* You could always try his home number. 实在不行的话, 你还可以试一试他家的电话号码. =>Usage
3 at shall 见shall所附用法第3项.

pt of can2.

modal v negative short formcouldn't

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1【past ability】
2【possibility】
3【emphasizing your feelings】
4【requesting】
5【suggesting】
6【annoyance】
7 couldn't be better/worse/more pleased etc
8 I couldn't
9 could do with something

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[Language: Old English;Origin: cuthe, past tense of cunnan ( CAN¹); influenced by should and would]
【PAST ABILITY】
used as the past tense of 'can' to say what someone was able to do or was allowed to do in the past
　By the time she was eight, she could read Greek and Latin.
　In those days you could buy a box of cigars for a dollar.
　Could you hear what I was saying?
　I couldn't get tickets after all, they were sold out.
　I knew I couldn't afford the rent.
　The teacher said we could all go home.
【POSSIBILITY】
a) used to say that something is possible or might happen
　Most accidents in the home could be prevented.
　It could be weeks before we get a reply.
　If you're not careful, you could get into even worse trouble.
　A faulty connection could easily (=would be likely to) cause a fire.
b) used to say that something was a possibility in the past, but did not actually happen
　Somebody could have been killed.
　I could have warned you if I had known where you were.
　He could have escaped, but he chose to stand and fight.
【EMPHASIZING YOUR FEELINGS】
spoken used to emphasize how happy, angry etc you are by saying how you want to express your feelings
　Sometimes he irritates me so much I could scream.
　I was so angry I could have killed her.
　I was so relieved I could have kissed them all.
【REQUESTING】
spoken used to make a polite request
　Could you help me with these boxes?
　Could I have a drink of water, please?
　How about Sam? Could he come along too?
　I wonder if I could just ask you to sign this.
【SUGGESTING】
used to suggest doing something
　You could ask your doctor for a check-up.
　You could always try phoning her at the office.
　Maybe we could get together sometime next week?
　Couldn't you get one of your friends to help you?
【ANNOYANCE】
spoken used to show that you are annoyed about someone's behaviour
　You could have told me you were going to be late (=you should have told me but you did not) !
　You could at least say that you're sorry.
　How could you be so stupid!
couldn't be better/worse/more pleased etc
used to emphasize how good, bad etc something is
　Their lifestyles couldn't be more different.
　'How are things?' 'Fine! Couldn't be better.'
　Ordering on-line couldn't be simpler.
I couldn't
BrE spoken used to politely say that you do not want any more food or drink
　'Would you like another piece of pie?' 'Oh, no thanks, I couldn't.'
could do with sth
spoken to need or want something
　I could do with a hot drink.
→could do worse (than)atworse¹ (5)
→couldn't care lessatcare² (5)
→couldn't agree moreatagree