could

modal verb

1. （用于can的过去时）
   used as the past tense of ‘can’
   1. She said that she couldn't come.
      她说她来不了啦。
   2. I couldn't hear what they were saying.
      我听不见他们在说些什么。
   3. Sorry, I couldn't get any more.
      对不起，我无法弄到更多了。
2. （询问是否可做某事）能，可以
   used to ask if you can do sth
   1. Could I use your phone, please?
      请让我用一下你的电话可以吗？
   2. Could we stop by next week?
      我们下周能过来一下吗？
3. （礼貌地请求别人做事）能，可以
   used to politely ask sb to do sth for you
   1. Could you babysit for us on Friday?
      你星期五帮我们看一下孩子好吗？
4. （表示可能）可能
   used to show that sth is or might be possible
   1. I could do it now, if you like.
      如果你愿意的话，我现在就可以做这事。
   2. Don't worry─they could have just forgotten to call.
      别担心，他们可能只是忘了打电话。
   3. You couldn't have left it on the bus, could you?
      你不可能把它落在公共汽车上了吧？
   4. ‘Have some more cake.’ ‘Oh, I couldn't, thank you (= I'm too full) .’
      “再来点蛋糕吧。”“谢谢你，吃不下了。”
5. （用于建议）可以
   used to suggest sth
   1. We could write a letter to the director.
      我们不妨给主管写封信。
   2. You could always try his home number.
      你总可以试着给他往家里打电话呀。
6. （对某人未做某事表示恼怒）本来可以
   used to show that you are annoyed that sb did not do sth
   1. They could have let me know they were going to be late!
      他们要晚来，也该早告诉我一声呀！
7. （强调感觉）真想
   used to emphasize how strongly you want to express your feelings
   1. I'm so fed up I could scream!
      我烦透了，非大喊大叫不可！

Could is a modal verb. It is used with the base form of a verb. Could is sometimes considered to be the past form of can, but in this dictionary the two words are dealt with separately. could 为情态动词，与动词原形连用。could 有时被视为 can 的过去式，但本词典对这两个词条分别列词解释。


1. MODAL 能;会
   You use could to indicate that someone had the ability to do something. You use could not or couldn't to say that someone was unable to do something.
   1. For my return journey, I felt I could afford the extra and travel first class...
      至于回程，我觉得我能多花点钱坐头等舱。
   2. I could see that something was terribly wrong...
      我能觉察到有什么事很不对头。
   3. He could not resist telling her the truth...
      他忍不住把实情告诉了她。
   4. When I left school at 16, I couldn't read or write...
      我16岁退学的时候既不识字也不会写字。
   5. There was no way she could have coped with a baby around.
      身边带着一个孩子，她不可能应付得过来。
2. MODAL 可能会;有时会
   You use could to indicate that something sometimes happened.
   1. Though he had a temper and could be nasty, it never lasted...
      虽然他爱发脾气，而且有时还很讨厌，但向来都只是一阵儿。
   2. He could be very pleasant when he wanted to.
      他想要友好的时候会非常友好。
3. MODAL 本能够，本可以(表示某事本有可能发生但却并未发生)
   You use could have to indicate that something was a possibility in the past, although it did not actually happen.
   1. He could have made a fortune as a lawyer...
      他本可以当律师挣大钱的。
   2. You could have been killed!...
      你差点儿就没命了！
   3. He did not regret saying what he did but felt that he could have expressed it differently.
      他并不后悔说了自己所做的事，但觉得本可以换一种方式表达。
4. MODAL (表示某事可能属实或可能发生)可能
   You use could to indicate that something is possibly true, or that it may possibly happen.
   1. Doctors told him the disease could have been caused by years of working in smokey clubs...
      医生们告诉他这种疾病可能是由于多年在烟雾缭绕的俱乐部工作所致。
   2. An improvement in living standards could be years away...
      可能多年之后生活水平才能得到提高。
   3. He was jailed in February 1992 and could be released next year.
      他于1992年2月入狱，可能明年获释。
5. MODAL (表示某事不属实)不可能
   You use could not or couldn't to indicate that it is not possible that something is true.
   1. They argued all the time and thought it couldn't be good for the baby...
      他们一直在争论，认为这对孩子肯定不好。
   2. Anne couldn't be expected to understand the situation...
      别指望安妮能弄明白当前情势。
   3. He couldn't have been more than fourteen years old.
      他不可能超过14岁。
6. MODAL (表示可能性、能力或机会)可能
   You use could to talk about a possibility, ability, or opportunity that depends on other conditions.
   1. Their hope was that a new and better East Germany could be born...
      他们希望能够诞生一个崭新的、更加美好的东德。
   2. I knew that if I spoke to Myra, I could get her to call my father.
      我知道如果我同迈拉讲一声，就能让她给我父亲打电话。
7. MODAL 好像；仿佛
   You use could when you are saying that one thing or situation resembles another.
   1. The charming characters she draws look like they could have walked out of the 1920s.
      她画的那些优雅迷人的人物就好像是从20世纪30年代走出来的一样。
8. MODAL (表示提议或建议)可以
   You use could, or couldn't in questions, when you are making offers and suggestions.
   1. I could call the local doctor...
      我可以给当地医生打电话。
   2. We need money right? We could go around and ask if people need odd jobs done or something...
      咱们需要钱，对不对？咱们可以去周围打听一下看有没有人要找人做零工什么的。
   3. 'It's boring to walk all alone.' — 'Couldn't you go for walks with your friends?'...
      “一个人走路很没意思。”——“你可以和朋友们一起去散步呀？”
   4. You could look for a career abroad where environmental jobs are better paid and more secure...
      你可以在国外找一份工作，那里与环境相关的工作报酬更高，也更稳定。
   5. It would be a good idea if you could do this exercise twice or three times on separate days.
      如果你能将此练习隔几天做上两三次就好了。
9. MODAL (用于礼貌地提出请求或征得许可。当说话者意识到可能被拒绝时，可以用 couldn't 代替 could)能，可以
   You use could in questions when you are making a polite request or asking for permission to do something. Speakers sometimes use couldn't instead of 'could' to show that they realize that their request may be refused.
   1. Could I stay tonight?...
      我今晚可以留下吗？
   2. Could I speak to you in private a moment, John?...
      约翰，我可以单独跟你说一会儿话吗？
   3. I wonder if some time I could have a word with you...
      我在想可不可以找个时间跟你谈一谈？
   4. Sir, could you please come to the commanding officer's office?...
      长官，请您到指挥官的办公室来一下好吗？
   5. Could we go outside just for a second?...
      我们出去呆一小会儿行吗？
   6. He asked if he could have a cup of coffee...
      他问能否给他来杯咖啡。
   7. Couldn't I watch you do it?
      让我看着你做行吗？
10. MODAL (用以礼貌地打断某人或引出将要说的话)请允许我
    People sometimes use structures with if I could or could I as polite ways of interrupting someone or of introducing what they are going to say next.
    1. Well, if I could just interject...
       嗯，请允许我插一句。
    2. Could I stop you there?...
       我能打断您一下吗？
    3. Could I ask you if there have been any further problems?...
       我想请问您一下，是否还出了什么其他的问题？
    4. First of all, could I begin with an apology for a mistake I made last week?
       首先，请允许我为上周犯下的错误道歉。
11. MODAL (用以强调某人应该做所提及的事情，尤用于当说话者因为其没做该事而生气时)
    You use could to say emphatically that someone ought to do the thing mentioned, especially when you are annoyed because they have not done it. You use why couldn't in questions to express your surprise or annoyance that someone has not done something.
    1. We've come to see you, so you could at least stand and greet us properly...
       我们都来看你了，你至少应该起身得体地打个招呼。
    2. Idiot! You could have told me!...
       蠢货！你本应该告诉我！
    3. He could have written...
       他本应该写信。
    4. Why couldn't she have said something?...
       为什么她什么都没说？
    5. But why couldn't he tell me straight out?
       可是他为什么不直截了当地告诉我？
12. MODAL (表示想要做某事的强烈感情)
    You use could when you are expressing strong feelings about something by saying that you feel as if you want to do the thing mentioned, although you do not do it.
    1. I could kill you! I swear I could!...
       我想杀了你！我发誓我真想杀了你！
    2. 'Welcome back' was all they said. I could have kissed them!...
       他们只是说，“欢迎回来。”我真想亲他们一下！
    3. She could have screamed with tension.
       她紧张得差点叫起来。
13. MODAL (用在if后以谈论没有能力或机会做但为考虑可能的结果而设想去做的事)
    You use could after 'if' when talking about something that you do not have the ability or opportunity to do, but which you are imagining in order to consider what the likely consequences might be.
    1. If I could afford it I'd have four television sets...
       假如能买得起，我就会有4台电视机。
    2. If only I could get some sleep, I would be able to cope.
       要是能睡上一会儿，我就能应付了。
14. MODAL (与比较级连用，强调某物或某人具备某种特征的程度)太…，再…不过
    You use could not or couldn't with comparatives to emphasize that someone or something has as much as is possible of a particular quality. For example, if you say 'I couldn't be happier', you mean that you are extremely happy.
    1. The rest of the players are a great bunch of lads and I couldn't be happier...
       剩下的选手是一帮很棒的小伙子，我太高兴了。
    2. Darling Neville, I couldn't be more pleased for you...
       亲爱的内维尔，我真太为你高兴了。
    3. The news couldn't have come at a better time.
       那消息来得正是时候。
15. MODAL 怎么会(用在疑问句中强调对所发生的不愉快之事的感受)
    In speech, you use how could in questions to emphasize that you feel strongly about something bad that has happened.
    1. How could you allow him to do something like that?...
       你怎么会允许他做那样的事？
    2. How could I have been so stupid?...
       我怎么会那么蠢？
    3. How could she do this to me?...
       她怎么能这样对我？
    4. How could you have lied to us all these years?
       你竟然骗了我们所有人这么多年！
16. CONVENTION 不用了(谢绝更多的食物或饮品)
    You say 'I couldn't' to refuse an offer of more food or drink.
    1. 'More cake?' — 'Oh no, I couldn't.'
       “再来点蛋糕？”——“哦不，不用了。”
17. could do with → see: do

1. For my return journey, I felt I could afford the extra and travel first class
   至于回程，我觉得我能多花点钱坐头等舱。
2. I could see that something was terribly wrong
   我能觉察到有什么事很不对头。
3. He could not resist telling her the truth
   他忍不住把实情告诉了她。
4. There was no way she could have coped with a baby around.
   身边带着一个孩子，她不可能应付得过来。
5. Though he had a temper and could be nasty, it never lasted
   虽然他爱发脾气，而且有时还很讨厌，但向来都只是一阵儿。
6. He could be very pleasant when he wanted to.
   他想要友好的时候会非常友好。
7. He could have made a fortune as a lawyer
   他本可以当律师挣大钱的。
8. You could have been killed!
   你差点儿就没命了！
9. He did not regret saying what he did but felt that he could have expressed it differently.
   他并不后悔说了自己所做的事，但觉得本可以换一种方式表达。
10. Doctors told him the disease could have been caused by years of working in smokey clubs
    医生们告诉他这种疾病可能是由于多年在烟雾缭绕的俱乐部工作所致。
11. An improvement in living standards could be years away
    可能多年之后生活水平才能得到提高。
12. He was jailed in February 1992 and could be released next year.
    他于1992年2月入狱，可能明年获释。
13. Their hope was that a new and better East Germany could be born
    他们希望能够诞生一个崭新的、更加美好的东德。
14. I knew that if I spoke to Myra, I could get her to call my father.
    我知道如果我同迈拉讲一声，就能让她给我父亲打电话。
15. The charming characters she draws look like they could have walked out of the 1920s.
    她画的那些优雅迷人的人物就好像是从20世纪30年代走出来的一样。
16. I could call the local doctor
    我可以给当地医生打电话。
17. We need money right? We could go around and ask if people need odd jobs done or something
    咱们需要钱，对不对？咱们可以去周围打听一下看有没有人要找人做零工什么的。
18. You could look for a career abroad where environmental jobs are better paid and more secure
    你可以在国外找一份工作，那里与环境相关的工作报酬更高，也更稳定。
19. It would be a good idea if you could do this exercise twice or three times on separate days.
    如果你能将此练习隔几天做上两三次就好了。
20. Could I stay tonight?
    我今晚可以留下吗？
21. Could I speak to you in private a moment, John?
    约翰，我可以单独跟你说一会儿话吗？
22. I wonder if some time I could have a word with you
    我在想可不可以找个时间跟你谈一谈？
23. Sir, could you please come to the commanding officer's office?
    长官，请您到指挥官的办公室来一下好吗？
24. Could we go outside just for a second?
    我们出去呆一小会儿行吗？
25. He asked if he could have a cup of coffee
    他问能否给他来杯咖啡。
26. Well, if I could just interject
    嗯，请允许我插一句。
27. We've come to see you, so you could at least stand and greet us properly
    我们都来看你了，你至少应该起身得体地打个招呼。
28. I could kill you! I swear I could!
    我想杀了你！我发誓我真想杀了你！
29. If I could afford it I'd have four television sets
    假如能买得起，我就会有4台电视机。
30. How could you allow him to do something like that?
    你怎么会允许他做那样的事？

modal verb

could do with sth

• （表示需要或希望有）想要
  used to say that you need or would like to have sth
  1. I could do with a drink!
     我真想喝一杯！
  2. Her hair could have done with a wash.
     她的头发该洗一洗了。