( to give permission, use can or may, don’t use could)
Do you think I could borrow your car? Yes, of course.
(Could is sometimes past of can.)
Can (present)
Could (past)
Be able to ( present perfect, infinitive)
Mr Meftaa could speak four languages.
Hey little boy, when I was young, I could dive into the water head first.
Mr Brown spoke in a low voice, I couldn’t understand anything.
(in a particular situation) was/were able to
Mr Brown was an handsome man. Every girl could fall in love with him.
Mr Brown reads an adventure book a day. But yesterday he had too much work and he was tired. But he was able to read the whole book before midnight.
Couldn’t in all situations
Mr grandfather couldn’t swim.
He tried hard but he couldn’t persuaded to study lesson.
could (present, past of can, future, possible future actions or happenings, make a suggestion.)
(Could is more unsure than can)
Grandmother: What shall we do tonight?
Grandfather : We could make love.
(possible future happening.)
Grandmother: You could get hurt if you don’t stop.
Grandfather: I could do it like a hammer when I was young, you know.
could would be able to
Why doesn’t Suzy go out very often. She could come back before midnight.
COULD HAVE
Could have past of could
(we had the opportunity or ability but we didn’t do it.)
I could have cheated on the exam but I knew the answers.
(something was a possibility but didn’t happen.)
He could have lost all his money on the gamble. But he was lucky.
Couldn’t have wouldn’t have been able to
When I came home, I wanted to cook the diner in the oven, but electricity had gone. I couldn’t have cooked the diner in the oven.
The football match was cancelled, I couldn’t have watched it. because I had to work late yesterday.
When ı went to g oto İzmir I decided to visit my old friends. Later I foun out that I lost my phone numbers notebook. I couldn’t have visited them anyway.
