could

Betekenis (Engels)

Verb

1. simple past of can
2. conditional of can
3. conditional of can
4. conditional of can
5. conditional of can
6. conditional of can
7. past participle of can

Noun

Something that could happen, or could be the case, under different circumstances; a potentiality.

Concepten

hulpwerkwoord

modaal werkwoord

Synoniemen

might

may

can

should

able to

obtain

ought to

perhaps

possible

really

shall

she

👩

it

🇮🇹

able

be likely

get

he

👨

indeed

must

Uitgesproken als (IPA)

/kʊd/

Etymologie (Engels)

Overgenomen van Middelengels: coude

Overgenomen van Oudengels: cūþe

In summary

From Middle English coude, couthe, cuthe, from Old English cūþe, past indicative and past subjunctive form of cunnan (“to be able”) (compare related cūþ, whence English couth). The 'l' was added in the early 16th century by analogy with should and would; this was probably helped by the tendency for 'l' to be lost in those words (and so not written, leading to shudd, wode, etc).

Zinnen

And nobody could accept that answer .

En niemand kon dat antwoord accepteren.

He could destroy you quite by accident .

Hij zou je per ongeluk vrij kunnen vernietigen.

Man could not conquer them .

De mens kon ze niet veroveren.

He could sell the stones and buy a return ticket .

Hij kon de stenen verkopen en een retourticket kopen.

But with her cover blown , she could never be undercover again .

Maar met haar dekking geblazen, zou ze nooit meer undercover kunnen zijn.

Perhaps , we could meet at the institute around noon since I have a few things I need to attend to first .

Misschien kunnen we elkaar rond het middaguur ontmoeten in het instituut, omdat ik een paar dingen heb waar ik eerst mee moet aanwezig zijn.

It was said that he could cross half of Spain without leaving his possessions .

Er werd gezegd dat hij de helft van Spanje kon oversteken zonder zijn bezittingen te verlaten.

It could have been steel , silver or platinum .

Het had staal, zilver of platina kunnen zijn.