What is could

It is also used for some conditional present and future tenses of can. In both of these examples, could is expressing possibility: things that could have been true or things that could yet come true.

For more on condition sentences, see here. What does would mean? Would is also a verb with many senses. In these examples, the speaker is using would to express a past action, which is helpful when comparing would vs. As you can see, could is simply making a statement of ability.

When I was in high school, I could do my homework on the bus. I simply had the ability to do so. Conversely, would is making a definite claim. Doing my homework on the bus was something that I did do, not just something that I had the ability to do.

Would is also a modal verb used to denote possibility, and it often refers to something that is conditional but definite within those conditions. As you can see, could is making a simple claim of ability. Should is used to say that something is the proper or best thing to do, or to say that someone ought to do something or must do something.

With each of these words, more information is usually given in conversation to tell us about other possibilities or information about an event that makes it more or less likely to happen. 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.

Learner's Dictionary mobile search. Learner's Dictionary. Ask the Editor. Serenity Carr , Assistant Editor. How to Use "Could," "Would," and "Should". What is the difference between could , would , and should? Adam could visit us on Monday. This tells us that it is possible Adam will visit on Monday, maybe he can visit us, but maybe he has other options, too.

Visiting us is one possibility. Adam would visit us on Monday. This tells us that we can imagine a situation in which Adam wants to visit us on Monday, but maybe it is not actually possible. Adam is willing to visit us, under the right conditions or if he can.

Adam should visit us on Monday. This tells us that Adam visiting on Monday is a good idea, or that it is something Adam is obligated to do. Adam could visit us on Monday , but he would rather hang out with his friends.

He is able to, but he chooses not to. Used to politely ask for someone else to do something. Used to indicate tentativeness or politeness. I could be wrong. Could you come over here? Used with hypothetical or conditional force. Used to politely ask for permission to do something.

Simple past tense of can. He gave what he could give. Used as a modal auxiliary in verbal phrases with present or future time reference, generally equivalent to can in meaning and use, with the following functions:. Expressing esp.