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': 通常后接不带to的不定式: I'm glad you could come. 我很高兴你能来。 Sometimes it is used without a following infinitive: 有时后面不接不定式: I came as quickly as I could. 我尽快赶来了。

Could does not change its form, so the third person singular form does not end in ‘-s': 无词形变化，所以第三人称单数后不加-s: She could play the violin when she was six. 她6岁就会拉小提琴了。

Questions and negatives are formed without ‘do': 疑问句和否定句中不带do: Could he help you? 他会帮你吗？ I could not breathe. 我透不过气来。

The negative form could not is often shortened in conversation or informal writing to couldn't: 否定形式 could not 在谈话或非正式书面语中常常缩略为couldn’t: I couldn't find her phone number. 我找不到她的电话号码。

Could is often used in question tags: 常用于附加疑问句中: They couldn't see us, could they? 他们看不见我们，对吧？

Could has no tenses, no participles, and no infinitive form. 没有时态、分词和不定式形式。

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无过去式，但could have 后接过去分词表示过去的某事是不真实的或本来可能是真实的: I could have been killed. 我本来可能已经被杀了。 What was that noise? Could it have been the wind? 那是什么声音？会不会是风？

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: 当意为“某人有能力做某事”或“某事可能发生”时，could 用作can 的过去式: The Roman army could march 30 miles in a day. 罗马军队一天能行军30英里。

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 的过去式）

Renee could already read when she was four. 勒妮4岁就识字了。

In the distance I could see a cloud of smoke. 我能看到远处有一团烟。

Synonyms and related words

Irregular past tenses: arose, ate, awoke...
2
spoken used in polite requests, or when offering or suggesting something （用于礼貌地请求以及提供或建议某事物时）可以，能

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

Could you post this letter for me? 你能帮我寄这封信吗？

I wonder if we could borrow your lawnmower? 请问我们能否借用一下你的割草机？

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. 我们仍然有可能赢，比赛还没有结束呢。
  
  In a situation like this, anything could happen. 在这种情况下，任何事情都可能发生。
  
  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 （尤指在困境中时用于向某人提建议）可以
  
  You could come and stay with us. 你可以来和我们呆在一起。
  
  could always :
  You could always sell the cottage if you need some extra cash. 如果还需要一些现金，你随时可以把小屋卖掉。
  
  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 （用于表示对某人的行为的厌恶）能，可以

How could you be so cruel! 你怎么能这么残忍！

They could at least have said they were sorry. 他们至少应该说声对不起。

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 （用于强调愤怒、高兴、烦恼等的程度）

It's all Helen's fault. I could strangle her! 都是海伦的错。我真想勒死她！

When I heard the news, I was so happy I could have cried. 听到那条消息时，我高兴得简直要哭了。

Synonyms and related words

Modal verbs: can, cannot, could...

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