could - Meaning, pronunciation, collocation and usage 英漢雙解 | Mr. Ng 線上詞典

Could is usually followed by an infinitive without ‘to': 通常後接不帶to的不定式: I'm glad you could come. 我很高興你能來。 Sometimes it is used without a following infinitive: 有時後面不接不定式: I came as quickly as I could. 我盡快趕來了。

Could does not change its form, so the third person singular form does not end in ‘-s': 無詞形變化，所以第三人稱單數後不加-s: She could play the violin when she was six. 她6歲就會拉小提琴了。

Questions and negatives are formed without ‘do': 疑問句和否定句中不帶do: Could he help you? 他會幫你嗎？ I could not breathe. 我透不過氣來。

The negative form could not is often shortened in conversation or informal writing to couldn't: 否定形式 could not 在談話或非正式書面語中常常縮略爲couldn’t: I couldn't find her phone number. 我找不到她的電話號碼。

Could is often used in question tags: 常用於附加疑問句中: They couldn't see us, could they? 他們看不見我們，對吧？

Could has no tenses, no participles, and no infinitive form. 沒有時態、分詞和不定式形式。

There is no past tense, but could have followed by a past participle is used for referring to something in the past that was not real, or something that may possibly have been real: could無過去式，但could have 後接過去分詞表示過去的某事是不真實的或本來可能是真實的: I could have been killed. 我本來可能已經被殺了。 What was that noise? Could it have been the wind? 那是什麽聲音？會不會是風？

Could is used as the past tense of can when it means that someone had the ability to do something, or that something was possible: 當意爲“某人有能力做某事”或“某事可能發生”時，could 用作can 的過去式: The Roman army could march 30 miles in a day. 羅馬軍隊一天能行軍30英裏。

But if you want to say that someone actually succeeded in doing something, use was/were able to: Thanks to this grant, we were able to buy new equipment.

1
used as the past tense of ‘can' （用作can 的過去式）

Renee could already read when she was four. 勒妮4歲就識字了。

In the distance I could see a cloud of smoke. 我能看到遠處有一團煙。

Synonyms and related words

Irregular past tenses: arose, ate, awoke...
2
spoken used in polite requests, or when offering or suggesting something （用於禮貌地請求以及提供或建議某事物時）可以，能

Could I have a glass of water? 我可以要杯水嗎？

Could you post this letter for me? 你能幫我寄這封信嗎？

I wonder if we could borrow your lawnmower? 請問我們能否借用一下你的割草機？

Synonyms and related words

Modal verbs: can, cannot, could...

See also can
3
used for saying what is possible
1. a.
  
  used for saying that something is possible or that it may happen 可能
  
  We could still win – the game isn't over yet. 我們仍然有可能赢，比賽還沒有結束呢。
  
  In a situation like this, anything could happen. 在這種情況下，任何事情都可能發生。
  
  could easily :
  You could easily lose your way in the dark. 人在黑暗中很容易迷路。
  
  Synonyms and related words
  
  Modal verbs: can, cannot, could...
2. b.
  
  spoken used for suggesting to someone a possible course of action, especially when they are in a difficult situation （尤指在困境中時用於向某人提建議）可以
  
  You could come and stay with us. 你可以來和我們呆在一起。
  
  could always :
  You could always sell the cottage if you need some extra cash. 如果還需要一些現金，你随時可以把小屋賣掉。
  
  Synonyms and related words
  
  Ways of making a suggestion: perhaps, maybe, may...
4
spoken used for showing that you are annoyed at the way someone has behaved （用於表示對某人的行爲的厭惡）能，可以

How could you be so cruel! 你怎麽能這麽殘忍！

They could at least have said they were sorry. 他們至少應該說聲對不起。

Synonyms and related words

Ways of emphasizing when you are annoyed or angry: hell, blast, for heaven's sake/sakes...
5
spoken used for emphasizing how angry, happy, bored etc you are （用於強調憤怒、高興、煩惱等的程度）

It's all Helen's fault. I could strangle her! 都是海倫的錯。我真想勒死她！

When I heard the news, I was so happy I could have cried. 聽到那條消息時，我高興得簡直要哭了。

Synonyms and related words

Modal verbs: can, cannot, could...

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