Learn English Grammar: How to use the auxiliary verb 'COULD'

Hello. I'm Gill at www.engvid.com, and today we have a lesson on an auxiliary modal verb:

你好。我是吉爾（www.engvid.com），今天 我們有一個關於輔助情態動詞的課程：

"could", the use of "could". So, there are two ways... Well, we have five ways that it's

“可以”，使用“可以”。所以有兩個 方式...嗯，我們有五種方式

used here, but "could" comes either from as the past tense of the verb "can", which is

在這裡使用，但“可能”來自 動詞“可以”的過去式，即

also an auxiliary modal verb, "can": "could" in the past; or it's used as an auxiliary

也是輔助情態動詞“ can”：“ could” 在過去;或用作輔助

verb with other verbs combined. So, sorry that sounds very complicated, but I hope it

動詞與其他動詞組合。非常抱歉 聽起來很複雜，但我希望

comes clearer with the sentences to illustrate how it can be used. Okay.

句子更清晰 說明如何使用它。好的。

So, first of all, just to show the simple past tense of "can", if I can do something:

所以，首先，為了展示簡單 如果可以，則“可以”的過去時：

I can do something today, yesterday I could do it as well; or I couldn't do it yesterday,

我今天可以做些什麼，昨天我可以做些 也要做否則我昨天做不到

you could use the negative as well. So, first sentence, then: "At one time"-in the past-"I

您也可以使用負片。所以，首先 句子，然後：“一次”-過去-“我

could run a mile and not get out of breath". So, to get out of breath is when you've been

可以跑一英里而不會氣喘吁籲”。 所以，要喘不過氣來是

running a lot, and then you can't... You're breathing very quickly and you have to wait

跑很多，然後你就不能... 呼吸非常快，你必須等待

for your body to get back to normal. And if you're running, also, it might be painful

使您的身體恢復正常。而如果 您也正在跑步，可能會很痛苦

and you have to stop, so that's getting out of breath. Okay? So: "At one time in the past

而且你必須停下來，這樣才能擺脫困境 呼吸好的？因此：“過去一次

I could run a mile." I can't say now in the present I can run a mile, because I can't,

我可以跑一英里。”我現在不能在 現在我可以跑一英里，因為我不能

okay? But in the past, at one time, I could run a mile and not get out of breath. Okay,

好的？但是在過去，我可以一次 跑一英里，不要氣喘吁籲。好的，

so that's just the past tense of "can".

所以那隻是 “ can”的過去式。

But then the other four examples are where it's used as an auxiliary modal verb with

但是接下來的四個例子是 用作輔助模態動詞

different ways of using it. So we have four different ways of using it, here. First of

不同的使用方式。所以我們有四個 這裡有不同的使用方式。首先

all, number two is a polite request. So, instead of: "Can I...?" you say: "Could I...? Could

總而言之，第二是有禮貌的要求。所以與其 作者：“我可以...嗎？”你說：“我能……嗎？

I borrow your pen, please, just for a moment? Could I borrow your pen, please?" If you say:

我借你的筆，請等一下？ 我可以藉你的筆嗎？”如果你說：

"Can I...?" it's okay, but it's not quite as polite. So if you really want the person

“我可以嗎...？”可以，但是還不完全 禮貌所以如果你真的想要那個人

to say: "Yes, of course", if you're polite they are more likely to let you borrow their

要說：“當然可以”，如果您有禮貌 他們更有可能讓你借用他們的

pen. So: "Could. Could I please?" So we've got: "Could I" and we also have "please" at

鋼筆。所以：“可以。我可以嗎？”所以我們 得到：“我可以”，我們也有“請”

the end. Or you could put: "Please" near the beginning: "Please. Please could I...? Could

結束。或者，您也可以在附近放置“請” 開頭：“拜託。拜託，我能...嗎？

I please...?" Any order. "Can I borrow your pen, please, just for a moment?" So that's

我可以...？”可以下任何訂單。“我可以藉你的 筆，請稍等一下？”

a polite request. Okay.

禮貌的要求。好的。

And then the third sentence is when you're saying that something is possible. You're

第三句話是當你 說有可能。你是

telling somebody something is possible if... If they do something, so this is called a

如果...告訴某人某事是可能的 如果他們做某事，那麼這稱為

conditional. Okay. And that... We have lots of video lessons on conditionals, so do have

有條件的。好的。那...我們有很多 有條件的視頻課程，所以有

a look for those. So, here is an example: "You could get good marks in the exam if you

尋找那些。因此，這是一個示例： “如果您能在考試中獲得良好的成績，

study every day." So, the conditional: "Could" often uses "if", because you have a choice.

每天學習。”因此，有條件的：“可以” 經常使用“ if”，因為您可以選擇。

Are you going to study every day and get good marks in the exam, or are you going to maybe

你每天要讀書並變得良好嗎 考試中的成績，或者您打算參加

study once or twice a week and then you get to the exam and you don't do so well, or what's

每週學習一到兩次，然後 考試卻做得不好，或者是什麼

your choice? So this is your teacher, your tutor might tell you: "You could get good

你的選擇？這是你的老師，你的 老師可能會告訴你：“你會變得很好

marks in the exam if you study every day", if you work hard regularly every day. So that's

如果您每天學習，都會在考試中取得成績”，如果 您每天都要定期工作。所以那是

a possibility, a conditional. Right.

一種可能性，有條件的。 對。

So, then number four, this is a polite way of maybe giving a criticism or suggesting

那麼，第四，這是一種禮貌的方式 可能提出批評或建議

something isn't right, there's a mistake, or something may have gone wrong. If you say:

某些不正確的地方，有一個錯誤，或者 可能出了點問題。如果你說：

"I could be wrong, but... I could be wrong, but I think there's a mistake (an error) in

“我可能錯了，但是...我可能錯了， 但我認為其中存在一個錯誤（錯誤）

these figures." So if you're looking at some accounts, and the figures in columns and they're

這些數字。”所以，如果您正在看一些 帳戶，以及列中的數字，它們是

supposed to add up accurately, and you look at it and you think: "This doesn't look right."

應該準確地加起來，然後你看 它，您會認為：“這看起來不正確。”

If you're an accounting genius, you can maybe see immediately something isn't right; the

如果您是會計天才，可以 立即看到不對勁；的

figures don't balance or something. So... But you don't want to say: "Oh, that's wrong.

數字不平衡或什麼。所以...但是 您不想說：“哦，那是錯誤的。

That's not right." You don't want to be so direct, so you're very careful that when you

那是不對的。”你不想這樣 直接，因此您在操作時要非常小心

begin your sentence: "I could be wrong, but I think..." So you're not saying: "I know.

開始你的一句話：“我可能錯了，但是 我認為...”所以您不是在說：“我知道。

I can see there's a mistake there." You wouldn't say that. "I think there's a mistake (an error)

我可以看到那裡有一個錯誤。” 比如說。 “我認為有一個錯誤（錯誤）

in these figures", so it's a polite way of suggesting there could be a mistake. "I could

在這些圖中”，這是一種禮貌的方式 暗示可能有一個錯誤。 “我可以

be wrong, but..." Okay. Useful phrase.

錯了，但是...” 有用的短語。

And then, finally, in this first half of the lesson, when somebody is saying they could

然後，最後，在 課，當有人說他們可以

have done something or they could have been something, a profession: "I could have been

做過什麼，或者他們本來可以做 某種職業：“我本來可以

a ballet dancer, but something happened to stop me." A lot of people say: "I could have

芭蕾舞演員，但是發生了一些事 阻止我。”很多人說：“我本來可以

done this, I could have done that", and then you think: "Well, why...? Why didn't you?"

做到這一點，我本可以做到的”，然後 您認為：“好吧，為什麼……？為什麼不呢？”

Maybe the circumstances weren't right, maybe you needed money for it which you didn't have,

也許情況不對，也許 您需要它沒有的錢，

so there are lots of reasons why people don't do what they could have done; if they'd had

所以人們不這樣做的原因很多 做他們本可以做的；如果他們有

the money, if they'd been in the right place at the right time with the right people, etc.

錢，如果他們來對地方了 在合適的時間與合適的人等

So: "I could have been", that's a kind of conditional, but it's a conditional where

所以：“我本來可以”，這是一種 有條件的，但這是有條件的

it's already in the past and it's too late now, you can't go back and change it. So:

已經過去了，為時已晚 現在，您不能返回更改它。所以：

"I could have been a ballet dancer, but it didn't happen." So...

“我本可以當芭蕾舞演員， 但那沒有發生。”

And that one reminded me of a famous scene in a film, the actor Marlon Brando, you may

那使我想起了一個著名的場景 在電影中，演員馬龍·白蘭度（Marlon Brando）

know this one, called On the Waterfront, and he's sitting in the back of a car with I think

知道這個叫在海濱的人，並且 他和我一起坐在汽車後座

his brother, and he's saying what... He could have been somebody. He could have really done

他的兄弟，他在說什麼...他可以 已經有人了。他真的可以做

something with his life, and now he's upset, he thinks it's too late, something's gone

生活中有些事，現在他很沮喪​​， 他認為為時已晚，某事已消失

wrong, so he says: "I could have been a contender" meaning someone who really gets out there

錯誤，所以他說：“我本可以成為競爭者” 意思是一個真正離開那裡的人

and does something, a contender. "I could have been somebody", rather than nobody. He

做某事，一個競爭者。 “我可以 曾經是某人”，而不是沒人。他

feels he's nobody. "I could have been somebody." So that's a famous example of: "could have

覺得他沒有人。 “我本可以成為某人的。” 因此，這是一個著名的例子：“可能有

been" in a film.

電影中。

And then to end this half of the lesson, the different forms for "could have", that's the

然後結束本節課的一半 “可能有”的不同形式，那就是

full form with no abbreviation, you can have it abbreviated, contracted with "could've",

沒有縮寫的完整表格，您可以 它縮寫為“可以”

"I could've", so "could", apostrophe, "ve". So the apostrophe shows the missing letters

“我可以”，所以“可以”，撇號，“ ve”。 所以撇號顯示缺少的字母

"ha". "Could have", so you say: "Could've", "could've", just a "ve" sound at the end.

“哈”。 “可能”，所以您說：“可能”， “可能”，最後只是一個“ ve”聲音。

"Could've" instead of "could have". "I could've". Okay. And then sometimes, because the way

“可以”而不是“可以”。 “我可以”。 好的。然後有時候，因為

people speak, they sometimes say: "I coulda". "I coulda done that. I coulda done that",

人們說話，他們有時會說：“我可能”。 “我可以做到。我可以做到”，

instead of "could've". "I coulda", if they're speaking quickly, meaning: "I could have done

而不是“可以”。如果他們是“我可以” 說話很快，意思是：“我可以做的

that. I coulda". You may sometimes see this written down if someone's written down what

那。我可以。”您有時可能會看到這個 如果有人寫下來寫下來

somebody said, and it sounded like "coulda", you might see that in writing, but usually

有人說，聽起來像是“ coulda”， 您可能會以書面形式看到，但通常

you will hear it when people are speaking.

你會在什麼時候聽到 人們在說話。

And because of this one, unfortunately, there's a terrible mistake that people put when they're

由於這一原因，不幸的是 人們在犯錯時犯下的可怕錯誤

writing, and they put: "could of", which is completely wrong. Okay? So please don't write

寫作，他們把：“可能的”，這是 完全錯誤。好的？所以請不要寫

"could of". It should be: "could have". So: "could of" makes no sense. The word "of" has

“可以”。應該是：“可能有”。所以： “可以”沒有任何意義。 “ of”一詞有

nothing to do with what this is saying, so please don't put: "could of", that's completely

與這句話無關，所以 請不要輸入：“可以”，這完全是

wrong, so be careful because also people say it like that: "I could of", "I could of",

錯了，所以要小心，因為也有人說 就像這樣：“我可以”，“我可以”，

so it's "could've" here turning into "could of" there, and they even say... People even

所以這裡的“可以”變成了“可以 那裡，他們甚至說...人們甚至

say it like an "of". "Could of", and they write it that way, too, "could of", and it's

說得像個“ of”。 “可以”，他們 也可以這樣寫，“可以”，

completely wrong, so please avoid that if you can. Right, so we'll just move on to the

完全錯誤，因此請避免這種情況 能夠。是的，所以我們繼續進行

second part of the lesson where I have a little test for you. Okay.

本課的第二部分 為您做一點測試。好的。

Okay, so here's the test for you to use the word "could" in four different sentences.

好的，這是供您使用的測試 四個不同句子中的“可能”一詞。

So, let's look at the first one. So, another way of saying it is: "I used to be able to

因此，讓我們看第一個。所以，另一個 這樣說：“我曾經能夠

swim underwater for a full minute." So if you're in the swimming pool, you go under

在水下游泳一整分鐘。” 你在游泳池裡，你下去

the water, below the surface, and you can swim around under water, holding your breath

表面之下的水，您可以 在水下游泳，屏住呼吸

for a full minute. Okay? So: "I used to be"-meaning at one time-"I was able to"-able to-"swim

一整分鐘。好的？所以：“我曾經是” 一次-“我能夠”-能夠“游泳”

under water for a full minute". So, can you say that in a similar way, starting: "At one

在水下一整分鐘”。那麼，你能 這樣說，開始於：“

time", and then use the word "could"? "At one time", okay. So it's about I, so: "At

時間”，然後使用“可以”一詞嗎？ 一次”，好的。這是關於我的，所以：“

one time I..." So: "At one time I could", and then it goes on. "At one time I could

一次我...”所以：“一次我可以”， 然後繼續。 “一次我可以

swim under water for a full minute." Okay. "Full minute" means a whole minute, 60 seconds,

在水下游泳一整分鐘。” 分鐘”表示一整分鐘60秒，

a complete minute. "At one time I could swim under water for a full minute." Okay. Right,

一整分鐘。 “一次我會游泳 在水下待一整分鐘。”

so that's using "can", "could" as the past tense. "I could at one time", okay. Right.

所以使用“ can”，“ could”作為過去 緊張。 “我可以一次”，好。對。

Next one. If you ask someone to speak more slowly, what would you say? If you're asking

下一個。如果您要求某人說更多話 慢慢地，你會說什麼？如果你問

someone to speak more slowly, politely asking them: "Speak more slowly", so you say: "Please...

有人說話慢一些，禮貌地問 他們：“說得慢一點”，所以你說：“請...

Please", so the word we want to use is "could", so: "Please could", "Please could", and then

請”，所以我們要使用的單詞是“可以”， 所以：“請可以”，“請可以”，然後

we're speaking to another person, so we need the word for the other person. "Please could

我們正在和另一個人說話，所以我們需要 這個詞是給另一個人的。 “請可以

you", okay? So: "Please could you speak more slowly?" Okay? Right. So that's a polite request,

你”，好嗎？所以：“請你說更多 慢慢來嗎？”“好嗎？

isn't it? You're being polite to the person. They're speaking too quickly, you're asking

是不是你對那個人很有禮貌。 他們說得太快了，你問

them: "Please, could you speak more slowly?" All right.

他們：“拜託，你能說嗎 更慢？”

Next one, you want to tell somebody, someone they are capable, they are able, they have

下一個，你想告訴某人，某人 他們有能力，他們有能力，他們有

the possibility of writing a book. They know so much about a subject that you say: "You

寫書的可能性。他們知道 關於一個主題，你這麼說：“你

know so much about that subject, you are capable, you are able, you would be able to write a

對這個主題非常了解，你有能力， 你有能力，你就能寫出

book on that subject because you know so much and you're so interested in it." So it's encouraging

預訂該主題，因為您了解很多，並且 您對此非常感興趣。”

them to go ahead, write a book. So what do you say to tell them that they're capable

他們繼續寫一本書。那怎麼辦 你說要告訴他們他們有能力

of writing a book? Using the word "could": "You..." So: "You could... You could write",

寫書？使用“可能”一詞： “你……”所以：“你可以……你可以寫”，

not "writing" this time, but: "You could write a book", okay? "You could write a book on

這次不是“寫作”，而是：“您可以寫作 一本書”，好嗎？“你可以寫一本書

that subject. You know so much about it." Okay, so that's a conditional because you

該主題。您對此非常了解。” 好吧，這是有條件的，因為你

could... The person may not decide: "Oh, right, I'll write a book, then." They may think:

可能...這個人可能不會決定：“哦，對， 那我寫一本書。”他們可能會認為：

"Oh no. I can't... I can't do that, it's too much work. I'm not going to do that." But

“哦，不。我不能...我不能那樣做，也是 很多工作。我不會那樣做。”但是

there's the possibility that they could write a book if they wanted to. Okay.

他們有可能 如果他們願意，寫一本書。好的。

And then finally: "I had the chance, the opportunity to be in a Hollywood film, but it didn't happen."

最後，“我有機會，有機會 參加好萊塢電影，但那沒有發生。”

Something went wrong. They chose somebody else, as often happens. It didn't happen.

出問題了。他們選擇了某人 否則，經常發生。沒發生

I had the chance, I had the opportunity, they were thinking of me, considering me. This

我有機會，我有機會，他們 在想我，在考慮我。這個

isn't true, by the way. But: "I had a chance to be in a Hollywood film, but it didn't happen."

順便說一句，這不是真的。但是：“我有機會 參加好萊塢電影，但那沒有發生。”

So, how would you say that using the word "could"? "I", you need several words here

所以，你怎麼說呢 “可以”？ “我”，您需要在這裡輸入幾個單詞

with "could", "could" plus some other words. "I..." Okay, so "could" comes first. "I could",

加上“可能”，“可能”以及其他一些字詞。 “我...”好吧，所以“可以”是第一位。 “我可以”，

"in a Hollywood film". "I could have... I could have been", okay? So: "I could have

“在好萊塢電影中”。 “我可以...我 本來可以”，所以？“我本來可以

been in a Hollywood film, but it didn't happen." Okay.

去過好萊塢電影，但是 沒發生。”

So, I hope that's been useful for you. So, if you'd like to go to the website, www.engvid.com,

因此，我希望這對您有所幫助。因此，如果 您想訪問網站www.engvid.com，

there's a quiz there. In addition to this test we've just done, there's a quiz on this

那裡有一個測驗。除此之外 我們剛剛完成的測試，對此有一個測驗

subject, so please go and try the quiz and see how you do. And please subscribe to my

主題，所以請嘗試測驗並 看你怎麼做。並且請訂閱我的

channel if you've enjoyed this lesson, and thanks for watching. See you again soon. Bye.

頻道（如果您喜歡本課），以及 謝謝收看很快再見。再見