Could 용법

[hazel]

Could 를 can 의 과거로만 알고 있으면 문제가 심각하다. Could 는 영화 속에서 드라마 속에서 이와 다른 여러 가지 용법으로 사용되고 있고 독해에서도 정확한 이해를 가로막는 경우가 can 의 과거로 해석하려는 경우에서 발생하였다. 이 보다는 Could 가 가능성possibility, 제의 suggestion, 허락request, 조건conditional 로 널리 쓰인다. 특히 if 와 함께 can 의 조건 절로 많이 쓰인다.

커피 집에서 줄 서서 커피 한 잔 주문하면서 Could I have a …….   하는 식으로 시작하고 식당에서 간단한 일품요리 주문하면서도 Could I have…..  하는 식으로 공손한 형태로 쓰이는 could 를 앞세운다.

누가 아니 식당 웨이트리스나 웨이터에게 이런 존칭을 쓸 필요가 있나요? 하고 묻는다. 런던의 식당이나 커피 집에서는 손님이 존칭을 쓰고 행동을 잘 하고 알바인 경우 주로 외국에서 영어 공부하러 온 외국인이 많아서인지 말만 통하는 영어를 쓰는 경우가 있다. 아줌마 물 가져와, 반찬 더 가져와 하면서 큰 소리로 불러도 되는 한국식당과는 분위기가 사뭇 다르다. 식당갈 때 옷도 잘 입고 간다.

그 이유는? 아마도 식당에서 앉아 밥 먹는 일은 특별한 일이라서 일 것이다. 값이 최저 한 삼만 원은 될까? 그래서 메뉴 판이 식당 앞에 나와있어 읽고 들어간다. 메뉴도 보고 값도 알 수 있는 것이다. 그래서 식당에서 밥을 주문하는 사람은 돈이 있는 사람이고 런던에서 돈이 있는 사람은 교양과 비례하는 편이다. 아니면 교양이 있어 보이고 싶은 사람이다. 그래서인지 손님이 되레 좋은 말, 존대 형을 쓴다.

혼돈스러운 것 중의 하나가 could 가 가능성의 정도에서 사용될 때 게다가 could  나 might 가 부정형태로 쓰이면 무엇이 어떻게 된다는 뜻인가 하는 것이다. 무엇이 다른가 하는 것이다. 사람들이 I might mot 하고 말들을 하는데 가능성이 별로 없다는 것일 때 그리고 자신이 잘 모를 때 하는 말이다. Could not 은 가능성이 거의 불가능할 때, might not 은 자신이 모른다는 의미가 내포되어 있다.

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Could

"Could" is used to express possibility or past ability as well as to make suggestions and requests. "Could" is also commonly used in conditional sentences as the conditional form of "can."

Examples:

·       Extreme rain could cause the river to flood the city. possibility

·       Nancy could ski like a pro by the age of 11. past ability

·       You could see a movie or go out to dinner. suggestion

·       Could I use your computer to email my boss? request

·       We could go on the trip if I didn't have to work this weekend. conditional

Using "Could" in Present, Past, and Future

Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "could" behaves in different contexts.

Modal Use	Positive Forms 1. = Present   2. = Past   3. = Future	Negative Forms 1. = Present   2. = Past   3. = Future	You can also use:
could possibility	1. John could be the one who stole the money. 2. John could have been the one who stole the money. 3. John could go to jail for stealing the money.	1. Mary couldn't be the one who stole the money. 2. Mary couldn't have been the one who stole the money. 3. Mary couldn't possibly go to jail for the crime.	might, may
could conditional of can	1. If I had more time, I could travel around the world. 2. If I had had more time, I could have traveled around the world. 3. If I had more time this winter, I could travel around the world.	1. Even if I had more time, I couldn't travel around the world. 2. Even if I had had more time, I couldn't have traveled around the world. 3. Even if I had more time this winter, I couldn't travel around the world.
could suggestion	1. NO PRESENT FORM 2. You could have spent your vacation in Hawaii. 3. You could spend your vacation in Hawaii.	NO NEGATIVE FORMS
could past ability	I could run ten miles in my twenties. I could speak Chinese when I was a kid. "Could" cannot be used in positive sentences in which you describe a momentary or one-time ability. Yesterday, I could lift the couch by myself. Not Correct	I couldn't run more than a mile in my twenties. I couldn't speak Swahili. "Could" can be used in negative sentences in which you describe a momentary or one-time ability. Yesterday, I couldn't lift the couch by myself. Correct	be able to
could polite request	Could I have something to drink? Could I borrow your stapler? Requests usually refer to the near future.	Couldn't he come with us? Couldn't you help me with this for just a second? Requests usually refer to the near future.	can, may, might

REMEMBER: "Could not" vs. "Might not"
"Could not" suggests that it is impossible for something to happen. "Might not" suggests you do not know if something happens.

Examples:

·       Jack might not have the key. Maybe he does not have the key.

·       Jack could not have the key. It is impossible that he has the key.

EXERCISES AND RELATED TOPICS

·                               Modal Exercise 1 can, could, have to, must, might and should

·                               Modal Exercise 3 might, must, should, could, have to and ought to

·                               Modal Exercise 4 couldn't and might not

·                               Modal Exercise 6 could, might, should and would

·                               Modal Exercise 7 modal verb forms

·                               Modal Verb Final Test complete review

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