Would is another form of the verb to act. Its other senses are deontic would and have to. In this article, we’ll explore both would and could. This is a common idiom that teaches us to think about possible future situations and determine whether we could or should act accordingly. But would itself has many other uses. Consider these examples to understand why would is such a useful word to use in everyday situations. What’s next?
Could
Could and can are both forms of the verb ‘can’. Could refers to a present ability or possibility; can is used when you’re asking a friend or a stranger for something. While could is more formal and a little more casual, you can also use it in informal situations. Here are some examples of when you might want to use it. Could – A girl could speak Arabic; Can she? Could she teach English?
Could – A girl could go out on a date. If you’re going on a date, you can say that you’re not married. But if you’re in love, you can say you’re a romantic. If you’re a woman, you can say that you’re in love with her. But that’s only half the story. Could is a form of the verb “to be,” just as’should’ is.
Could – Use ‘could’ in sentences to emphasize the past. This verb serves as a helping verb. However, it’s a bit unnatural to use “could” in sentences like these. Moreover, it’s not grammatically correct to use could with ‘have’ or ‘be’. This form of the verb is derived from an 1837 usage. And besides, it’s also less formal than ‘can’.
Could – Another form of the verb could, but one with different meaning. A former form of the verb could is the passive part of a sentence, and a present-tense version would be the active one. Could shows a person’s ability. This form is used to talk about what someone did in the past. If the person ‘could’ do something, then they could do it. However, if they don’t do it, they could say that they would be able to do it in the future.
Could is a modal verb. In other words, it implies that a person or thing is capable of doing something. If someone’s past actions were successful, the person would have been able to accomplish what they wanted. Otherwise, it would be impossible for them to do so. If someone did not know, could’ve could be an acceptable form. However, could’t be used in formal writing. It’s best to use it in casual conversation, as it will sound more informal.