could
/kʊd; kəd/modal verb
उच्चारण कुड
सका; सकते हैं (विनम्र)
Basic word
- 1
used as the past tense of can; used to ask politely for permission or for help; used to say that something is possible; used to suggest something
सका; सकते हैं (विनम्र)
- I could read at four.
- Could you open the door?
- It could rain today.
+ 4 more examples
- When I was ten, I could swim across the pond.
- Could you tell me the way to the station, please?
- It could be a long wait, so bring a book.
- We could take the early train if you prefer.
Synonyms was able to might would be able to
§Structures (grammar patterns) 5
could + base verb (ability in the past)
Use could for a general ability you had in the past. For a single successful action on one occasion, use was/were able to or managed to.
भूतकाल की सामान्य योग्यता के लिए 'could' का प्रयोग होता है; एक विशेष अवसर पर किसी काम में सफल होने के लिए 'was/were able to' या 'managed to' प्रयोग करें।
- Radhika could read when she was four.
- After a long search, we were able to find the key.
Could I / you + base verb? (polite request)
Could makes requests and permission polite. 'Could you' is more polite than 'Can you'.
'Could' अनुरोध और अनुमति को विनम्र बनाता है; 'Could you' 'Can you' से अधिक विनम्र है।
- Could you open the window, please?
- Could I borrow your notes for a day?
could + base verb (possibility)
Could shows that something is possible but not certain, now or in the future. It is weaker than may or might in some contexts.
'Could' वर्तमान या भविष्य में किसी बात की संभावना दिखाता है, पर निश्चितता नहीं।
- It could rain this evening.
- He could be waiting at the gate.
could have + past participle
Could have shows a past possibility that did not happen, or a past ability not used. It can also express criticism.
'Could have + past participle' भूतकाल की उस संभावना को दर्शाता है जो घटित नहीं हुई, या प्रयोग न की गई क्षमता को; यह आलोचना भी व्यक्त कर सकता है।
- Arjun could have won the race if he had not slipped.
- You could have told me earlier.
if + past, ... could + base verb
In second conditional sentences, could expresses an imagined ability or possibility.
Second conditional वाक्यों में 'could' काल्पनिक क्षमता या संभावना व्यक्त करता है।
- If I had more time, I could learn French.
+Collocations 4
could + verb
could seecould hearcould imaginecould understandcould not help
- I could hear the music from the next street.
could + adverb
easilypossiblyhardlybarelyjust
- The match could possibly be postponed because of rain.
question forms
Could you tell meCould you pleaseCould I askHow couldWho could
- Could you tell me the way to the station?
fixed phrases
could not agree morecould do withas best one couldcould hardly wait
- Radhika could hardly wait for the results.
“More examples 6
- My grandfather could walk ten kilometres a day when he was young.
मेरे दादाजी युवावस्था में प्रतिदिन दस किलोमीटर चल सकते थे।
- Could you explain this sum once more?
क्या आप यह सवाल एक बार फिर समझा सकते हैं?
- It could be dangerous to cross the river after heavy rain.
भारी बारिश के बाद नदी पार करना ख़तरनाक हो सकता है।
- I could have studied harder, but I was lazy.
मैं और कठिन पढ़ाई कर सकता था, पर मैं आलसी था।
- She said she could not attend the meeting.
उसने कहा कि वह बैठक में उपस्थित नहीं हो सकती।
- I could do with a cup of tea after that long journey.
उस लंबी यात्रा के बाद मुझे एक कप चाय की आवश्यकता है।
!Common mistakes 3
✗ He could to swim when he was five.
✓ He could swim when he was five.
Could is a modal verb and is followed by the base verb without to.
'Could' modal verb है और उसके बाद बिना 'to' के मूल क्रिया आती है।
✗ She could passed the exam last year.
✓ She could have passed the exam last year.
A past possibility needs could have + past participle, not could + past form.
भूतकाल की संभावना के लिए 'could have + past participle' चाहिए, 'could + past form' नहीं।
✗ Yesterday I could finish the whole book in one sitting.
✓ Yesterday I was able to finish the whole book in one sitting.
For one particular achievement in the past, use was able to, not could.
भूतकाल की किसी एक विशेष उपलब्धि के लिए 'was able to' का प्रयोग होता है, 'could' का नहीं।
≠Thesaurus: which synonym when
These modals all talk about ability or possibility, but they differ in time, politeness and certainty.
ये modal क्षमता या संभावना की बात करते हैं, पर समय, शिष्टता और निश्चितता में भिन्न हैं।
Past ability, polite request, or a possibility that is not certain.
भूतकाल की क्षमता, विनम्र अनुरोध, या अनिश्चित संभावना।
- Could you lend me a pen?
Present ability, permission or possibility; less polite in requests.
वर्तमान क्षमता, अनुमति या संभावना; अनुरोध में कम विनम्र।
- I can swim across the river.
A weaker, more doubtful possibility than could.
could से कमज़ोर, अधिक संदेहपूर्ण संभावना।
- It might rain, but I doubt it.
≈Synonyms and antonyms
Synonyms
was able to might would be able to
§Grammar and usage
Could + base form ('She could swim'); could is the past of can for general ability ('I could swim when I was young'), but was able to is used for success on one occasion ('I was able to catch the train', not 'could catch'); could have + past participle (a past possibility that did not happen: 'You could have won'); could for polite requests ('Could you help me, please?') and possibility ('It could be true').
यह बहुत पूछा जाता है: could + base form ('She could swim'); सामान्य क्षमता के लिए could, can का past है ('I could swim when I was young'), पर एक अवसर पर सफलता के लिए was able to ('I was able to catch the train', 'could catch' नहीं); could have + past participle (अतीत की संभावना जो नहीं हुई: 'You could have won'); शिष्ट अनुरोधों ('Could you help me, please?') और संभावना ('It could be true') के लिए could।
Could, /kʊd/, with a silent l (like should and would).
Could, /kʊd/, silent l के साथ (should और would की तरह)।