Could / Couldn't (A1)

Usa could + el verbo tal cual para algo que podías hacer en el pasado. Sin to después de could: I could swim, no I could to swim.

could + verbo tal cual

When Amina was five, she could swim.
Hiroshi could ride a bike at six.
I could read when I was four.
Not "She could to swim." — say "She could swim.". Entre could y el verbo no pongas to.
Pruébalo: Yasmin: Was Mateo good at sports? Lani: Yes, he ___ soccer very well at ten. Termina lo que dice Lani. (could play / could to play / could playing) Respuesta: could play — Yasmin pregunta con Was, y at ten ya pasó, así que es una habilidad en el pasado. Después de could el verbo va tal cual — sin to y sin -ing.

could nunca cambia. He, she, it también usan could, y el verbo que va después no lleva -s.

I could speak English.
She could speak English.
They could speak English.
Not "She could speaks English." — say "She could speak English.". Incluso con she, el verbo se queda tal cual, nunca could speaks.
Pruébalo: Ethan: Was Sofia good at languages? Camila: Yes, she ___ two languages at ten. Termina lo que dice Camila. (could speak / could speaks / coulds speak) Respuesta: could speak — Could nunca cambia, y el verbo que va después nunca lleva -s, ni siquiera con she. Tampoco existe "coulds".

Para algo que no podías hacer, usa couldn't + el verbo tal cual. (couldn't = could not.)

She couldn't find her keys.
I couldn't swim when I was three.
They couldn't come yesterday.
Not "She couldn't found her keys." — say "She couldn't find her keys.". Después de couldn't, el verbo va tal cual: find, no found.
Pruébalo: Camila: Why were you outside so long? Hiroshi: It was dark. I ___ the number on the door. Termina lo que dice Hiroshi. (couldn't see / couldn't saw / don't see) Respuesta: couldn't see — Hiroshi dice It was dark, así que habla de un momento que ya pasó. Después de couldn't el verbo va tal cual — see, no saw — y don't see es sobre ahora.

Para preguntar, pon Could antes de la persona y luego el verbo tal cual.

Could you swim at five?
Could she speak French?
What could you do?
Not "Did you could swim?" — say "Could you swim?". Para una pregunta, Could va primero; no necesitas 'did'.
Pruébalo: Matilda: ___ you cook when you were young? Lars: Only eggs! Termina lo que pregunta Matilda. (Could / Did could / Were) Respuesta: Could — When you were young lo sitúa en el pasado, y en una pregunta sobre el pasado Could va antes de la persona — no le pones did delante.

Júntalo todo: después de could el verbo nunca cambia — sin to, sin -ing, sin -s y nunca en forma de pasado.

She could cook at twelve.
We could walk to school.
They could read music.
Not "She could cooked at twelve." — say "She could cook at twelve.". Después de could el verbo nunca cambia — ni -ed, ni -ing, ni -s.
Pruébalo: Sofia: Were you a fast child? Lani: Very! I ___ all the way home when I was five. Termina lo que dice Lani. (could run / could ran / could to run) Respuesta: could run — Sofia pregunta con Were y Lani dice when I was five, así que es pasado. Después de could el verbo nunca cambia: run, no ran, y sin to.

Ya conoces could para la habilidad en el pasado. Could you...? es también una forma educada de pedir algo ahora.

Could you help me, please?
Could you open the window?
Could you say that again?
Pruébalo: Matilda: Could you take this bag? My hands are full. Ethan: ___ Elige lo que dice Ethan. (Of course. Here, give it to me. / Yes, I could. I was strong then. / No, I couldn't find it.) Respuesta: Of course. Here, give it to me. — Matilda tiene las manos ocupadas ahora, así que está pidiendo ayuda, no preguntando por el pasado. Una respuesta sobre lo que Ethan podía hacer antes, o sobre encontrar algo, no encaja.

Incorrecto	Correcto	Por qué
She could to swim.	She could swim.	Entre could y el verbo no pongas to.
She could speaks English.	She could speak English.	Incluso con she, el verbo se queda tal cual, nunca could speaks.
She couldn't found her keys.	She couldn't find her keys.	Después de couldn't, el verbo va tal cual: find, no found.
Did you could swim?	Could you swim?	Para una pregunta, Could va primero; no necesitas 'did'.
She could cooked at twelve.	She could cook at twelve.	Después de could el verbo nunca cambia — ni -ed, ni -ing, ni -s.