Could example sentences
Related (10): can, might, may, would, should, ability, possibility, permission, capability, potential
"Could" Example Sentences
Common Phrases
- could have
- could not
- could you
- could be
- could not have
- could see
- could feel
- could tell
- could not help but
- could have been
- could barely
- could not wait
- could do worse
Examples by Level
A1
- I could swim when I was five years old.
- Could you help me with this, please?
A2
- She said she could come to the party if her mother allowed it.
- We could see the ocean from the hotel window.
B1
- Looking back, I could have made better choices, but I was young and didn't know any better.
- He could barely speak English when he first arrived, but now he's fluent.
B2
- She could sense the tension in the room the moment she walked in, and it made her deeply uncomfortable.
- They could have prevented the disaster if they'd listened to the warnings, but pride got in the way.
C1
- What struck him most was that he could perceive, with almost painful clarity, the exact moment when her feelings had shifted.
- One could argue that the entire crisis could have been averted had the leadership possessed even a modicum of foresight.
C2
- There was something almost unbearable about the knowledge that she could have prevented his suffering, yet chose silence instead.
- He understood, perhaps better than anyone, that one could spend a lifetime wondering what could have been, or one could choose to live with what actually is.
Examples by Scenario
🏠 Everyday Life
- I could smell coffee brewing from downstairs, and it made waking up almost bearable.
- The kids could play outside for hours without getting bored, but now they just stare at screens.
💼 Workplace
- She could tell her boss was angry by the way he kept his jaw clenched during the meeting.
- We could have met the deadline if the client hadn't changed the requirements three times.
📊 Business
- The company could expand into new markets, but the risk assessment suggests waiting another year.
- Our competitor could undercut our prices, but they'd sacrifice quality in the process.
🛒 Buying / Shopping
- I could afford the expensive version, but honestly the cheaper one does the same thing.
- You could return it within thirty days if it doesn't work out.
✈️ Travel
- We could have taken the scenic route, but we were running late for the flight.
- The guide said we could visit the museum, but it would only give us an hour there.
📚 Education
- The teacher explained that students could improve their grades by attending tutoring sessions.
- He could have gotten into a better university if he'd studied harder in high school.
❤️ Relationships
- I could feel her pulling away, and I didn't know how to stop it.
- We could have worked it out if we'd both been willing to compromise, but neither of us was.
📰 News / Politics
- Analysts say the government could face serious backlash if they pass this controversial bill.
- The investigation revealed that the official could have prevented the scandal by speaking up sooner.
💻 Technology
- The app could track your location, which is why privacy advocates are concerned.
- You could use the old software, but the new version is much faster.
📝 Formal Writing
- The research indicates that regular exercise could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by up to thirty percent.
- It could be argued that the policy could have achieved its objectives more efficiently with proper implementation.