Could
Definition
Example
"I could help you with your homework."
"She said she could visit us tomorrow if she finishes work early."
"Could you please pass the salt? It is a polite way to ask for something."
Explanation
Could is a modal verb used to indicate possibility, ability, permission, or polite requests. It is often the past tense of “can” but can also express future possibilities in polite language. For example, “I could go to the market” means it is possible. “Could you help me?” is a polite request. Could is used in conditional sentences, suggestions, or softening statements. It helps make language less direct or demanding and adds politeness. Understanding “could” is essential for daily conversation, formal writing, and expressing hypothetical situations.