Could example sentences

Related (10): can, might, may, would, should, ability, possibility, permission, capability, potential

"Could" Example Sentences

  1. I could see the mountains from my bedroom window on clear days.
  2. She said she could help with the project if we needed her.
  3. They could have left earlier, but they wanted to say goodbye.
  4. You could try calling him instead of just texting.
  5. Nobody could have predicted how badly that would go.
  6. If I had more time, I could finish this tonight.
  7. He could barely walk after the accident, but he refused to complain.
  8. We could order pizza or cook something at home — your choice.
  9. Could you pass the salt, please?
  10. She could feel his eyes on her the entire conversation.
  11. I could tell he was lying just by the way he wouldn't look at me.
  12. They could have been happy if they'd tried harder.
  13. You could do so much better than settling for that job.
  14. It could rain tomorrow, so bring an umbrella just in case.
  15. I could never understand why he stayed with her for so long.
  16. She could hear the neighbors arguing through the thin walls.
  17. We could've avoided this whole mess if someone had just communicated.
  18. He could barely afford rent, let alone a vacation.
  19. You could always ask your parents for help — there's no shame in that.
  20. I could feel my heart breaking as she walked away.
  21. They could see the finish line, but they were too exhausted to care.
  22. She could have been a dancer if her knees hadn't given out.
  23. Could we please talk about this like adults?
  24. I could sense something was wrong the moment he came home.
  25. You could've warned me before springing that on me.
  26. He could barely contain his anger during the meeting.
  27. We could make this work if we both actually wanted to.
  28. She could tell by his tone that he was disappointed.
  29. I could never forgive myself if something happened to her.
  30. They could hear the music from three blocks away.

Common Phrases

  1. could have
  2. could not
  3. could you
  4. could be
  5. could not have
  6. could see
  7. could feel
  8. could tell
  9. could not help but
  10. could have been
  11. could barely
  12. could not wait
  13. could do worse

Examples by Level

A1
  1. I could swim when I was five years old.
  2. Could you help me with this, please?
A2
  1. She said she could come to the party if her mother allowed it.
  2. We could see the ocean from the hotel window.
B1
  1. Looking back, I could have made better choices, but I was young and didn't know any better.
  2. He could barely speak English when he first arrived, but now he's fluent.
B2
  1. She could sense the tension in the room the moment she walked in, and it made her deeply uncomfortable.
  2. They could have prevented the disaster if they'd listened to the warnings, but pride got in the way.
C1
  1. What struck him most was that he could perceive, with almost painful clarity, the exact moment when her feelings had shifted.
  2. One could argue that the entire crisis could have been averted had the leadership possessed even a modicum of foresight.
C2
  1. There was something almost unbearable about the knowledge that she could have prevented his suffering, yet chose silence instead.
  2. 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
  1. I could smell coffee brewing from downstairs, and it made waking up almost bearable.
  2. The kids could play outside for hours without getting bored, but now they just stare at screens.
💼 Workplace
  1. She could tell her boss was angry by the way he kept his jaw clenched during the meeting.
  2. We could have met the deadline if the client hadn't changed the requirements three times.
📊 Business
  1. The company could expand into new markets, but the risk assessment suggests waiting another year.
  2. Our competitor could undercut our prices, but they'd sacrifice quality in the process.
🛒 Buying / Shopping
  1. I could afford the expensive version, but honestly the cheaper one does the same thing.
  2. You could return it within thirty days if it doesn't work out.
✈️ Travel
  1. We could have taken the scenic route, but we were running late for the flight.
  2. The guide said we could visit the museum, but it would only give us an hour there.
📚 Education
  1. The teacher explained that students could improve their grades by attending tutoring sessions.
  2. He could have gotten into a better university if he'd studied harder in high school.
❤️ Relationships
  1. I could feel her pulling away, and I didn't know how to stop it.
  2. We could have worked it out if we'd both been willing to compromise, but neither of us was.
📰 News / Politics
  1. Analysts say the government could face serious backlash if they pass this controversial bill.
  2. The investigation revealed that the official could have prevented the scandal by speaking up sooner.
💻 Technology
  1. The app could track your location, which is why privacy advocates are concerned.
  2. You could use the old software, but the new version is much faster.
📝 Formal Writing
  1. The research indicates that regular exercise could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by up to thirty percent.
  2. It could be argued that the policy could have achieved its objectives more efficiently with proper implementation.

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