BASIC-GRAMMAR-U-8.3

8.3. could (past ability)

PRESENTATION

Use the modal verb could to describe ability in the past.

He could play the organ very well.

He couldn’t hear his music.

Could he play the organ?

TIP

Yои often use How well/far … ? with could:

How well could he play the guitar? Very well.

How far could he run? About twenty kilometres.

Key vocabulary

Occupations: composer, boxer, writer, scientist, painter, singer