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Teo Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

could (polite form of can???)

01. You could shut up and sit down. 02br
02br
002. You could give me a hand with the cooking.02br
02br
003. You could phone Mary and see what time she's coming.02br
02br
00What does 01font00could00 00mean in the above three examples?02font0-
  

Top answer

0 could = would be able to02br 02br 00 1. 02br 00 2. 02br 00 3.

— CalifJim

  • 0 could = would be able to02br 02br 00 1.
  • 02br 00 2.
  • 02br 00 3.
  • 02br 02br 00 CJ0-
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3 Answers
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0 could = would be able to02br
02br
00 1. Almost an order.02br
00 2. A hint.02br
00 3. A suggestion.02br
02br
00 CJ0-
0
0
0 01i02br
02br
00Could 00is the past tense of 01i00can02i00. These two words are among the many that form a class of MAV modal auxiliary verbs called the ‘pure’modals. AV’s (Auxiliary verbs) are helping verbs that help the main verbs to convey additional information. MAV’s are a type of AV. MAV’s help to convey shades of meaning: permission,
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Buddhaheart12cite11i10 12i10Can 10& 11i10could12i10 convey permission as in requests and statements and general, physical and mental ability. They also convey degree of sureness (definiteness) and possibility. 12br
12br
10C11i10ould12i10 expr
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