Difference between could and could be

Question

Hi to all, What is difference between 'could' and 'could be'? Can any body explain with simple examples.Thanks

Yankee · Accepted Answer

Hi Arunakumari

Here are some basics.

The verb "be" is used alone as an ordinary (main) verb. It is also used as an auxiliary verb. The word "be" is a bare infinitive.
When "be" is a main verb, it has various different forms. For example: am, are, is, was, were

I am hungry.
You are a member of the forum.
He is here.
It was sunny yesterday.
They were in the Bahamas last week.

The word "could" is a form of "can", and it is a modal verb. Neither "can" nor "could" is a main verb. You use them with the bare infinitive form of another verb.

You could be right.
He could swim when he was five years old.
I can speak German.
It can be done.

CalifJim · Answer

could and be are two different words, each with their own use. Your question is similar to asking what the difference is between did and did go or between may and may find. could is always followed by another verb: could go, could find, could see, could decide, could sleep, could eat, could rest, could work, and could be.

Very often, could means would be able to. So then could go means would be able to go, could find means would be able to find, and could be means would be able to be.

I think I could go at 3 o'clock. = I think I would be able to go at 3 o'clock.
I think he could find a good book for you to read. = I think he would be able to find a good book for you to read.
Did Louise say that she could be there before 6 o'clock? = Did Louise say that she would be able to be there before 6 o'clock?

CJ

Difference between could and could be

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions