How do you use "could (past ability)" in a sentence?

I could swim when I was five.' (past ability) Could you help me, please?' (polite request) She couldn't come to the party.' (past inability) We were able to finish on time.' (specific achievement)

could (past ability)

Q: What does "could (past ability)" mean?

Expresses past ability or past possibility 'Could' is the past of 'can' for general ability in the past. For a specific past achievement, use 'was/were able to' or 'managed to', not 'could'. 'Could' also makes polite requests.

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Significado: Expresses past ability or past possibility

表示过去的能力或可能性

Expresa habilidad o posibilidad pasada

過去の能力や可能性を表す

과거의 능력이나 가능성을 표현한다

'Could' is the past of 'can' for general ability in the past. For a specific past achievement, use 'was/were able to' or 'managed to', not 'could'. 'Could' also makes polite requests.

'Could'是'can'的过去式，用于表示过去的一般能力。对于过去的具体成就，使用'was/were able to'或'managed to'，而不是'could'。'Could'也用于提出礼貌的请求。

'Could' es el pasado de 'can' para expresar habilidad general en el pasado. Para un logro específico pasado, usa 'was/were able to' o 'managed to', no 'could'. 'Could' también se usa para hacer peticiones corteses.

「Could」は過去の一般的な能力を表す「can」の過去形です。過去の具体的な達成には、「could」ではなく「was/were able to」や「managed to」を使います。「Could」は丁寧な依頼にも使われます。

'could'는 과거의 일반적 능력에 대한 'can'의 과거형입니다. 특정한 과거 성취에는 'could'가 아닌 'was/were able to' 또는 'managed to'를 사용합니다. 'could'는 또한 정중한 요청에 쓰입니다.

Ejemplos

I could swim when I was five.' (past ability)
我五岁时就会游泳了。'（过去的能力）
Podía nadar cuando tenía cinco años.' (habilidad pasada)
5歳の時に泳げました。'（過去の能力）
다섯 살 때 수영할 수 있었어요.' (과거의 능력)
Could you help me, please?' (polite request)
请问你能帮我吗？'（礼貌请求）
¿Podría ayudarme, por favor?' (petición cortés)
手伝っていただけますか？'（丁寧な依頼）
도와주시겠어요?' (정중한 요청)
She couldn't come to the party.' (past inability)
她没能来参加聚会。'（过去无法）
Ella no pudo venir a la fiesta.' (incapacidad pasada)
彼女はパーティーに来られませんでした。'（過去の不能）
그녀는 파티에 올 수 없었어요.' (과거의 불능)
We were able to finish on time.' (specific achievement)
我们按时完成了。'（具体成就）
Pudimos terminar a tiempo.' (logro específico)
私たちは時間通りに終わることができました。'（具体的な達成）
우리는 제시간에 끝낼 수 있었어요.' (구체적 달성)

Pronunciación

Guía de uso

Contexto: spoken, written, everyday

Tono: past ability

✓ Correcto

I could speak French when I was young.
我年轻时会说法语。
Podía hablar francés cuando era joven.
若い頃はフランス語が話せました。
어렸을 때 프랑스어를 할 수 있었습니다.
Could I ask you something?
我可以问你一些事情吗？
¿Podría preguntarte algo?
何かお聞きしてもいいですか？
뭔가 여쭤봐도 될까요?
He couldn't find his keys.
他找不到钥匙。
No podía encontrar sus llaves.
彼は鍵が見つかりませんでした。
그는 열쇠를 찾을 수 없었습니다.
We managed to escape. (specific achievement)
我们设法逃脱了。（具体成就）
Logramos escapar. (logro específico)
私たちは何とか逃げることができました。（具体的な達成）
우리는 가까스로 탈출했습니다. (구체적 성취)
I could swim.
我以前会游泳。
Yo sabía nadar.
私は泳げました。
나는 수영할 수 있었습니다.
Yesterday I managed to finish the work.
昨天我设法完成了工作。
Ayer logré terminar el trabajo.
昨日、なんとか仕事を終わらせました。
어제 가까스로 일을 끝냈습니다.
Could you help me?
你能帮我一下吗？
¿Podrías ayudarme?
手伝っていただけますか？
도와주실 수 있나요?

✗ Incorrecto

I could to swim. (no 'to')
I could to swim.（不加'to'）
I could to swim. (no se pone 'to')
I could to swim.（「to」は不要）
I could to swim. ('to' 불필요)
Yesterday I could finish the work. (specific = managed to)
Yesterday I could finish the work.（具体情况应用managed to）
Yesterday I could finish the work. (en casos específicos se usa managed to)
Yesterday I could finish the work.（具体的な場合はmanaged toを使う）
Yesterday I could finish the work. (구체적인 경우 managed to 사용)
Could you to help me? (no 'to')
Could you to help me?（不加'to'）
Could you to help me? (no se pone 'to')
Could you to help me?（「to」は不要）
Could you to help me? ('to' 불필요)

Origen e historia

Past form of modal 'can'

Contexto cultural

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

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