| 词汇 | could |
| 释义 | couldcould /kəd; strong kʊd/ ●●● S1 W1 modal verb (negative short form couldn’t) 1 past ability 过去的能力CAN used as the past tense of ‘can’ to say what someone was able to do or was allowed to do in the past 能，会，可以〔can 的过去式〕 By the time she was eight, she could read Greek and Latin. 她八岁时就会读希腊文和拉丁文了。 In those days you could buy a box of cigars for a dollar. 那时候，一美元能买一盒雪茄烟。 Could you hear what I was saying? 你能听到我说的话吗？ I couldn’t get tickets after all, they were sold out. 我最终还是没能弄到票，全都卖完了。 I knew I couldn’t afford the rent. 我知道我付不起租金。 The teacher said we could all go home. 老师说我们都可以回家了。 2 possibility 可能性MAYBE a) used to say that something is possible or might happen 可以，可能 Most accidents in the home could be prevented. 大多数家庭意外事故都是可以事先预防的。 It could be weeks before we get a reply. 我们可能要等好几个星期才得到回复。 If you’re not careful, you could get into even worse trouble. 如果你不当心的话，可能会陷入更大的麻烦。 A faulty connection could easily (=would be likely to) cause a fire. 接错线路很容易引发火灾。 b) used to say that something was a possibility in the past, but did not actually happen 〔表示未发生的事情〕差点就，本来有可能 Somebody could have been killed. 差点有人送命。 I could have warned you if I had known where you were. 我要是知道你在哪里的话就提醒你了。 He could have escaped, but he chose to fight. 他本来可以逃走的，但他选择留下来战斗。 3 emphasizing your feelings 强调感情 spoken used to emphasize how happy, angry etc you are by saying how you want to express your feelings 很想〔强调快乐、气愤等情绪〕 He irritates me so much I could scream. 他气得我真想尖叫。 I was so angry I could have killed her. 我气得都想把她杀了。 I was so relieved I could have kissed them all. 我开心得真想把他们亲个遍。 4 requesting 请求ASK FOR something/ASK somebody TO DO something spoken used to make a polite request 能否，可不可以〔用于礼貌地请求〕 Could you help me with these boxes? 你能否帮我搬一搬这些箱子？ Could I have a drink of water, please? 我可以喝点水吗？ How about Sam? Could he come along too? 萨姆怎么样？ 他也可以一起去吗？ I wonder if I could just ask you to sign this. 我想能否请你在这上面签个名。 5 suggesting 建议SUGGEST used to suggest doing something 可以〔用于建议做某事〕 You could ask your doctor for a check-up. 你可以请医生做个检查。 You could always try phoning her at the office. 你总可以打电话到她办公室找她。 Maybe we could get together sometime next week? 下周的什么时候我们也许可以聚一聚？ Couldn’t you get one of your friends to help you? 你不可以让你的朋友帮你吗？ 6 annoyance 恼怒ANNOY spoken used to show that you are annoyed about someone’s behaviour 应该，应当〔用于表示恼怒〕 You could have told me you were going to be late (=you should have told me but you did not)! 你该告诉我你会迟到呀！ You could at least say that you’re sorry. 你至少应该道个歉。 How could you be so stupid! 你怎么会这么蠢！ 7 couldn’t be better/worse/more pleased etc VERYused to emphasize how good, bad etc something is 非常好/糟/开心等 Their lifestyles couldn’t be more different. 他们的生活方式截然不同。 ‘How are things?’ ‘Fine! Couldn’t be better.’ “近来怎么样？”“好！非常好。” Ordering online couldn’t be simpler. 网上订购再方便不过。 8 I couldn’t British EnglishBrE spokenREJECT/NOT ACCEPT used to politely say that you do not want any more food or drink 我吃[喝]不下了〔用于礼貌地表示你不再需要食物或饮料〕 ‘Would you like another piece of pie?’ ‘Oh, no thanks, I couldn’t.’ “你再来一块馅饼好吗？”“哦，不，谢谢，我吃不下了。” 9 could do with something spoken to need or want something 需要某物；想要某物 → could do worse (than) at worse1(5), → couldn’t care less at care2(5), → couldn’t agree more at agree(1) I could do with a hot drink. 我想喝杯热饮料。 Examples from the Corpus could do with something• I could do with a change of scenery.• He could do with a warm bed.• And Katherine could do with all the comfort she could get for the illness was slowly and inexorably taking its toll.• We could do with another girl in the chorus.• But the Olympic gold medal was so far away from what I thought I could do with my life.• That was nice, she could do with settling.• The governor said he could do with something to eat.• Just imagine what we could do with this idea. n GRAMMAR: Patterns with could You use could with the base form of the verb (=the infinitive without ‘to’): The teacher said we could go home. 老师说我们都可以回家了。 He could be in his office. You say Could I? when asking for permission: Could I use your phone? You say that something could have happened: The team could have won. They could already have gone home. You use couldn’t or could not in negative sentences: We couldn’t see anything. That could not be true. Examples from the Corpus could• Eleanor couldn't come last night.• I'm sure Francis could find out for you.• There's no way you could go by yourself, Kay.• Dad said we could go swimming after lunch.• You guys could go to the Sirloin Saloon for a nice big steak.• What about Sam? Could he come along, too?• I don't think I could live with someone like that.• Nobody could tell my hair was dirty.• We could use plastic cups, so we don't have to wash anything.• Could you drop off the kids on your way to work?• Could you have her call me back when she gets home, please?• Could you hear that all right? could easily• We could easily afford it, and you and Edith have always been close.• But this Strategy could easily backfire, since strenuous exercise would Simply produce more lactic acid, making the situation worse.• Further solutions could easily be obtained using this method.• And if you failed, no one noticed and you could easily disappear.• I could easily have become a scapegoat.• It surprised me but it could easily have been tiredness from being out so long.• The first meeting between these strangers could easily produce a shock that reverberated throughout the marriage.• This is a problem which the band themselves could easily solve by restructuring their media policy. could always• She could always claim this was a break period, but on the whole it was easier if her movements remained unobserved.• But he was right, I knew: they could always have another one.• Her remark that she could always have stayed home and made cookies has discomfited Republicans, not least Barbara Bush.• You could always hear the voice beneath the words.• They could always say that they were sick.• Calvin Smith, the world-record holder, could always spring a surprise.• He tried to keep it secret-how much it hurt-but I could always tell..• They could always write his lines on his shirt-cuff. could at least• If I made that kind of money, I figure I could at least afford a comb.• It is not that difficult to cobble together a budget that could at least appear to be balanced within five years.• Finally she says to me: You could at least clean that damn thing every once in a while.• He could at least cover his mouth.• You would think that with all the money I make, I could at least have a decent place to sleep.• I thought he could at least have tried new words.• Well, you could at least send a photograph. Old English cuthe, past tense of cunnan ( → CAN1); influenced by should and would |
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