5D Elementary - The Modal Verb Could

​A 'could' módbeli segédige
(The Modal Verb 'Could')

By Attila Veress

• Can you play chess right now?

• ​No, I can't. But maybe tomorrow.

• Could you play chess last year?

• Yes, I could. I even went to a competition.

Mi a különbség a két mondat között?

Képzés (Formation)

​Kijelentő (Affirmative)	Tagadó (Negative)​
​I/He/She/It/We/You/They could swim.	​I/He/She/It/We/You/They couldn't swim.​

​Kérdő (Question)
Could​ I/He/She/It/We/You/They swim?

​Rövid Válasz (Short Answers)
Yes,​ I/He/She/It/We/You/They can.
​No, I/He/She/It/We/You/They can't.

Használata (Use of Could)

• Olyan képességekről beszélni, amellyel a múltban rendelkeztünk (vagy nem, ha couldn't).
  /We can use could and couldn't to talk about abilities in the past./

  • 'I could swim when I was four.'

• A could és couldn't módbeli segédigéket csak alapvető főnévi igealakkal használjuk és 'to' nélkül.
  /Use the infinitive without to after could and couldn't./

  • 'My mum couldn't swim when she was a child.'

  • (NOT My mum couldn't to swim when she was a child.')

Multiple Choice

She _____ speak three languages.

• can

• could

• couldn't

Multiple Choice

He could _______ when he was four.

• swim

• swam

• swimming

Multiple Choice

I could _______ football when I was five.

• to play

• playing

• play

Multiple Choice

When I was young, I ____ run very fast.

• can

• could

• can't

Multiple Choice

____ you tell me where the nearest bank is?

• can

• could

• can't