Could and Couldn't 💪

We use could and could not to talk about past ability (what someone was or wasn't able to do). We also use could to make polite requests and ask for permission. 🎯

1. Quick Reference Table 📋

Use	Form	Example
Past ability (positive)	could + infinitive	She could swim when she was five.
Past ability (negative)	could not + infinitive	He could not read until he was seven.
Polite request	Could + subject + infinitive?	Could you open the window, please?
Asking permission (polite)	Could I + infinitive?	Could I use your phone, please?

2. Could: Past Ability ✅

Use could to say that someone had an ability in the past. It is the past form of can:

• I could ride a bike when I was six. ✅
• She could speak three languages before she was ten. ✅
• My grandfather could fix any car. He was very talented. ✅

3. Couldn't: Past Inability ❌

Use could not to say that someone did NOT have an ability in the past:

• I could not swim until I was eight. ✅
• He could not understand the teacher because she spoke too fast. ✅
• We could not find the hotel. We were lost for an hour. ✅

4. Could: Polite Requests 🙏

Use Could you...? to ask someone to do something. It is more polite than Can you...?:

• Could you help me with this bag, please? ✅
• Could you say that again? I didn't hear you. ✅
• Could you turn down the music? It is very loud. ✅

5. Could I...? Asking Permission 🙏

Use Could I...? to ask politely if you are allowed to do something:

• Could I sit here, please? ✅
• Could I borrow your pen for a moment? ✅
• Could I leave a little early today? I have a doctor's appointment. ✅

6. Common Mistakes ⚠️

✅ Correct	❌ Wrong
She could swim at age five.	She could swam at age five. (no -ed after could)
He could not drive.	He could not to drive. (no 'to' after could)
Could you help me?	Could you to help me? (no 'to')
I could not find it.	I didn't could find it. (couldn't, not didn't could)

Ready to practice? Let's go! 🚀