ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE
27. Could (do) and could have (done)
A
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We use could in a number of ways. Sometimes could is the past of can
(see Unit 26):
·
Listen. I can
hear something. (now)
·
I listened. I could
hear something. (past)
But could is not only used in this way. We also use could to talk about possible
actions now or in the future (especially to make suggestions). For example:
·
A: What shall we do tonight?
B: We could go to the cinema.
·
A: When you go to Paris next month, you could stay with Sarah.
B: Yes, I
suppose I could.
Can is also
possible in these sentences ('We can
go to the cinema.' etc.). Could
is less sure than can.
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B
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We also use could (not
·
I'm so tired, I could sleep for a week. (not
Compare can and could:
·
I can
stay with Sarah when I go to Paris. (realistic)
·
Maybe I could
stay with Sarah when I go to Paris. (possible, but less sure)
·
This is a wonderful place. I could stay here for ever. (unrealistic)
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C
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We also use could (not can)
to say that something (a situation or a happening) is possible now or in the
future. The meaning is similar to might
or may (see Unit 29):
·
The story could
be true, but I don't think it is. (not can be true)
·
I don't know what time Lisa is coming. She could get here at any time.
Compare can and could:
·
The weather can
change very quickly in the mountains. (in general)
·
The weather is nice now, but it could change. (the weather
now, not in general)
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D
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We use could have (done) to talk about the past. Compare:
·
I'm so tired, I could sleep for a week. (now)
I was so tired,
I could have slept for a
week. (past)
·
The situation is bad, but it could be worse. (now)
The situation
was bad, but it could have been
worse. (past)
Something could have happened = it was possible but did not happen:
·
Why did you stay at a hotel when you were in Paris?
You could have stayed with
Sarah. (you didn't stay with her)
·
David was lucky. He could have hurt himself when he fell, but he's OK.
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E
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We use couldn't to say that something would not be possible:
·
I couldn't
live in a big city. I'd hate it. (= it wouldn't be possible for me)
·
Everything is fine right now. Things couldn't be better.
For the past we use couldn't have (done):
·
We had a really good holiday. It couldn't have been better.
·
The trip was cancelled last week. Paul couldn't have gone anyway
because he was ill. (it would not have been possible for him to go)
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EXERCISES
27.1
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Answer the questions with a
suggestion. Use could.
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27.2
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In some of these sentences, you
need could (not can). Change the sentences where necessary.
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27.3
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Complete the sentences. Use could or
could have+ a suitable verb.
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27.4
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Complete the sentences. Use
couldn't or couldn't have+ these verbs (in the correct form):
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ANSWER
KEY
27.1
2 We could have fish.
3 You could phone (her) now.
4 You could give her a book.
5 We could hang it in the kitchen.
27.2
3 I could kill him!
4 OK (could have is also possible)
5 I could stay here all day
6 it could be in the car (may/might are
also possible)
7 OK
8 OK (could borrow is also possible)
9 You could fall. (may/might are also
possible)
27.3
2 could have come/gone
3 could apply
4 could have been
5 could have got/taken
6 could come
27.4
3 couldn't wear
4 couldn't have found
5 couldn't get
6 couldn't have been
7 couldn't have come/gone
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