Could pronunciation meaning?
used to express possibility, esp. slight or uncertain possibility: A lot of these problems could be prevented. It could be days before we hear from her.
What does could be mean?
used to express possibility, esp. slight or uncertain possibility: A lot of these problems could be prevented. It could be days before we hear from her.
What does could use mean?
idiom (also could do with) to need or want something: I could use some help over here!
What is the phonetic sound of could?
Break 'could' down into sounds: [KUUD] - say it out loud and exaggerate the sounds until you can consistently produce them.
Why don't we pronounce the L in could?
The <l> in “could” is silent because it shouldn't have been there in the first place. The word is the past tense of Middle English “kunnan,” which was “kunde” in the 14th c. The <n> was changed to <l> over the 14–15th cc.
Is could the same as will?
What Is Their Main Difference? The main difference between 'could' and 'will' is that 'could' is mainly used to talk about the past while 'will' is used to talk about the future.
What are the examples of could?
Examples: “Could you please move this box?” “I could, but I am really busy right now.” “Could you please pass that paper.” “Sure, I can.”
What is a better way to say could be?
On this page you'll find 64 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to could be, such as: perchance, perhaps, as it may be, can be, conceivable, and conceivably.
Is it polite to use could?
The most important things to remember are: Can is used when referring to something with a strong possibility or occurring, whereas could is used to refer to something that has a weak possibility. Both can and could can be used to make a request, but when asking for permission, could is the more polite choice to use.
Can I use could as permission?
Could has the same meaning as may when making requests. It is equally polite to say “Could I leave early?” or “May I leave early?” Could is used with any subject to ask for permission. For example “Could I open the window?” or “Could you open the window?” are both grammatical.
What does could do with something mean?
If you say that you could do with something, you mean that you need it or would benefit from it. I could do with a cup of tea. The range could do with being extended. See full dictionary entry for do. Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
What are the 3 types of sounds in English pronunciation?
Three categories of sounds must be recognised at the outset: phones (human sounds), phonemes (units which distinguish meaning in a language), allophones (non-distinctive units).
Is it more polite to say could or would?
“Would you” and “Could you” are equally polite and valid ways to make a request. “Could you” sounds more polite than “Would you.” “Would you” sounds more insistent and is more often used in angry requests, such as “Would you please hurry up!”
What is the rule of could?
We use could to show that something is possible, but not certain: They could come by car. (= Maybe they will come by car.)
What means I would say?
“I would say” means that you may or may not say something depending on certain conditions. “What would you say if they invited you? I would say 'yes. '”
Do Americans pronounce the T in can t?
Did you know that the “T” in the word “CAN'T” is usually silent? It's crazy to think about but in spoken American English “Can” and “Can't” sound almost exactly alike…let's discuss!
Why can't Americans pronounce t?
Speech Modification American Accent Training
In the start of words, we always use an aspirated t. This means we have a puff of air which escapes when we release the t. At the ends of words, Americans often use a stopped T. This means they move the tongue into position for the /t/, but they don't release the air.
Why do people use would instead of will?
Would is the past tense of will and is the form of will used in the subjunctive mood to express hypothetical statements. Both will and would are used to ask questions, but would is considered to be more formal or polite when used in this context.
Do we use could for future?
We often use could to express possibility in the present and the future.
Can I use may instead of will?
The main difference between modal verbs 'may' and 'will' is that 'will' talks about the future and 'may' talks about possibilities.
Where should I use could?
Just remember that could is used to talk about something that can happen, would is used to talk about something that will happen in an imagined situation, and should is used to talk about something that ought to happen or must happen.
Is May a polite word?
May is the most formal/polite and could is more formal and polite than can.
What is the difference between could and should with examples?
We use 'could' and 'should' to give advice. 'Could' is used to express our disapproval of something that has already happened in the past. 'Should' is used to express our thoughts on an event that may be happening now or will happen in the future.
What is the opposite of could?
| may not | cannot |
|---|---|
| can't | ought not |
| shall not |
Is could more formal than may?
"Can," "may," and "could" are all used to make requests. "May" is formal in these contexts, while "can" and "could" appear mainly in speech: "May I have your attention?" is more formal than "Can I have your attention?" or "Could I have your attention?" For further guidance on these verbs, check the entries for each.
