How do you use "could (Past Ability)" in a sentence?

She could speak French when she was young. I couldn't sleep last night. Could you see the stage from your seat? He could run very fast as a child.

could (Past Ability)

Q: What does "could (Past Ability)" mean?

Describing abilities in the past 'Could' expresses general past ability: 'I could swim when I was five.' For specific achievements, use 'was able to' or 'managed to': 'I was able to fix it' (not 'I could fix it' for a specific event).

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Significado: Describing abilities in the past

描述过去的能力

Describir habilidades en el pasado

過去の能力を表す

과거의 능력을 나타내기

'Could' expresses general past ability: 'I could swim when I was five.' For specific achievements, use 'was able to' or 'managed to': 'I was able to fix it' (not 'I could fix it' for a specific event).

'Could'是'can'的过去式，描述过去的一般能力：'I could swim as a child'。对于特定情况下的成功，用'was able to'或'managed to'：'I was able to escape'（不是'I could escape'）。

'Could' es el pasado de 'can,' describiendo habilidad general pasada: 'I could swim as a child.' Para éxito en ocasiones específicas, usa 'was able to' o 'managed to': 'I was able to escape' (no 'I could escape').

「Could」は「can」の過去形で、過去の一般的な能力を表します：「I could swim as a child」。特定の場面での成功には「was able to」や「managed to」を使います：「I was able to escape」（「I could escape」ではない）。

'Could'는 일반적인 과거 능력을 나타냅니다: 'I could swim when I was five.' 특정한 성과에 대해서는 'was able to' 또는 'managed to'를 사용합니다: 'I was able to fix it' (특정 사건에 'I could fix it'은 사용하지 않음).

Ejemplos

She could speak French when she was young.
她年轻时会说法语。
Ella podía hablar francés cuando era joven.
彼女は若い頃、フランス語を話せました。
그녀는 어렸을 때 프랑스어를 할 수 있었어요.
I couldn't sleep last night.
我昨晚睡不着。
No pude dormir anoche.
昨夜眠れませんでした。
어젯밤에 잠을 잘 수 없었어요.
Could you see the stage from your seat?
从你的座位能看到舞台吗？
¿Podías ver el escenario desde tu asiento?
あなたの席からステージが見えましたか？
자리에서 무대가 보였나요?
He could run very fast as a child.
他小时候跑得很快。
Él podía correr muy rápido cuando era niño.
彼は子供の頃、とても速く走れました。
그는 어렸을 때 매우 빠르게 달릴 수 있었어요.

Pronunciación

Guía de uso

Contexto: spoken, written, everyday

Tono: descriptive

✓ Correcto

I could already read at age 4.
她年轻时会说法语。
Ella podía hablar francés cuando era joven.
彼女は若い頃フランス語が話せました。
4살에 이미 글을 읽을 수 있었어요.
They couldn't find a taxi.
我昨晚睡不着。
No pude dormir anoche.
昨夜眠れませんでした。
그들은 택시를 찾을 수 없었어요.
We could hear the music from here.
从你的座位能看到舞台吗？
¿Podías ver el escenario desde tu asiento?
席からステージが見えましたか？
여기서 음악이 들렸어요.
Yesterday I was able to finish the project.
他小时候跑得很快。
Él podía correr muy rápido de niño.
彼は子供の頃とても速く走れました。
어제 프로젝트를 끝낼 수 있었어.
I could swim.
我以前会游泳。
Yo sabía nadar.
私は泳げました。
나는 수영할 수 있었어.

✗ Incorrecto

Yesterday I could finish the project. (use 'was able to' for specific past events)
昨天我could完成了那个项目。（表达具体过去事件时应用'was able to'）
Ayer pude terminar el proyecto. (usa 'logré' o 'pude' para eventos específicos del pasado)
昨日、私はそのプロジェクトを終えることができた。（具体的な過去の出来事には「was able to」を使います）
어제 나는 그 프로젝트를 끝낼 수 있었다.（구체적인 과거 사건에는 'was able to'를 사용）
I could to swim. (no 'to' after could)
I could to swim.（could后面不加'to'）
Yo podía a nadar. (sin 'a' después de 'podía')
I could to swim.（couldの後に「to」は不要です）
I could to swim.（could 뒤에 'to'를 붙이지 않음）

Origen e historia

Past ability modal

Contexto cultural

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Más de este tema

should / ought to ★★★★★ Giving advice and expressing what is right must vs have to ★★★★★ Two ways to express obligation with different nuances could (suggestions) ★★★★★ Making polite suggestions and possibilities be supposed to ★★★★★ Expected or scheduled to do something may / might ★★★★★ Expressing possibility or uncertainty need to / needn't ★★★★★ Expressing necessity or lack of necessity