Modal Verbs: Could, Definition and Example Sentences

Modal Verbs: Could, Definition and Example Sentences

Ability

• I could play a guitar when I was a child
• I could smell something burning.

Request

• Could you hand me the pencil?
• Could I go to the park?

Suggestion

• I could help you with Spanish.
• They could go to the movies if you are interested.

Conditional of Can

• I could visit many places if I had more money.

Possibility

• A lot of crime could be prevented.
• You could have called first.

Permission

• Could I borrow your notebook?
• Could I  speak to Mary?