Could / Couldn't (A1)

Utilise could + le verbe à la forme de base pour parler d’une capacité passée. Pas de to après could : I could swim, pas I could to swim.

could + verbe à la forme de base

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.". Rien ne s’intercale entre could et le verbe, pas de to.
Essayez: When Amina was five, she ___. (could swim / could to swim / could swimming) Réponse: could swim — Après could, utilise le verbe à la forme de base tout seul : could swim. Pas de « to » ni de « -ing » après could.

could ne change jamais. He, she, it utilisent could aussi, et le verbe qui suit ne prend pas de -s.

I could speak English.
She could speak English.
They could speak English.
Not "She could speaks English." — say "She could speak English.". Même avec she, le verbe reste à la forme de base, jamais could speaks.
Essayez: When she was young, Sofia ___ French. (could speak / could speaks / coulds speak) Réponse: could speak — Could ne prend jamais de -s, et le verbe qui le suit reste aussi à la forme de base : could speak (pas « could speaks » ni « coulds »).

Pour ce que tu n’étais pas en capacité de faire, utilise couldn't + le verbe à la forme de base. (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.". Après couldn't, le verbe reste à la forme de base : find, pas found.
Essayez: Hiroshi ___ his keys this morning. (couldn't find / couldn't found / didn't could find) Réponse: couldn't find — La forme négative est couldn't + le verbe à la forme de base : couldn't find (pas « couldn't found » ni « didn't could »).

Pour poser une question, place Could devant la personne, puis le verbe à la forme de base.

Could you swim at five?
Could she speak French?
What could you do?
Not "Did you could swim?" — say "Could you swim?". Pour une question, Could vient en premier, pas besoin de « did ».
Essayez: ___ you ride a bike when you were six? (Could / Did could / Were) Réponse: Could — Commence la question par Could, devant la personne : Could you ride a bike? On n’ajoute pas « did » devant could.
Essayez: Remember what follows could, As a child, Lani ___ a bike. (could ride / could rides / could to ride) Réponse: could ride — Après could, utilise toujours le verbe à la forme de base : could ride. (Jamais de -s, pas de « to », pas de « -ing ».)