Language Expansion Expressing past opportunity and ability with
Language Expansion Expressing past opportunity and ability with could Could is used to say that a person had an opportunity or ability to do something in the past and did do it. I could speak to her in Korean. (I was able to speak Korean and I did. ) Could have is used to say that a person had an opportunity or ability to do something in the past and did not do it. I could have spoken to her in Korean. (I was able to speak Korean but I didn’t. )
Language Expansion Expressing unreality with wish The form for could is the same as for other modals. Subject could verb (base form) (optional) She could speak Korean. The form for could have is the same as for should have and would have. Subject could have verb (past participle) (optional) He could have greeted You could have brought them. a gift.
Quick Check Complete the sentences with could or could have and the verb in parentheses ( ). could have made (make) eye contact, but it wouldn’t 1. We _______ 2. have been polite. 2. When he had a good job, he ______ could bring (bring) more expensive gifts to his business meetings, and he always did. 3. Why didn’t you tell us it wasn’t polite to be late? We ________ could have come (come) earlier. could speak 4. Sara _______ (speak) for hours when she was a junior employee, but she has learned to speak less.
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