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Û

384 Can, could and may

COULD

382

Uses

Could

has a number of meanings. The most frequent uses are for possibility/

probability and for making suggestions, and as the past tense of can.

Probability

One of the main uses of could is for assessments of possibility or weak probability:

I think that 

could be the answer to the problem.

We 

could all be having holidays on the moon within thirty years.

[in a shop; A is the assistant]

A: We don’t give refunds without a receipt I’m afraid.

B: Really? 

A: Yeah. 

B: All right. That could be tricky. 

Suggestions

Could

is often used in making suggestions:

A: I could just cook dinner tonight and then you could cook it some other night

and, you know, reciprocate.

B: Alright. Okay.

Permission

Could

is used to ask for permission:

Could I talk to you for a moment?

Criticism

Could have

+ -ed participle is often used to express disapproval or criticism:

You 

could have told me. Why did you keep it all to yourself?