Unit 27. Could (do) and could have (done).
Unit 27; Part A

• Listen. I can hear something. (now)
• I listened. I could hear something. (past)

Butcould is not only used in this way. We also use could to talk aboutpossible actions now or in the future (especially to make suggestions).
For example:
• A: What shall we do this evening?
B: We could go to the cinema.
• A: When you go to Paris next month, you could stay with Julia.
B: Yes, I suppose I could.
Can is also possible in these sentences ('We can go to the cinema.' etc.). With could, the suggestion is less sure.
Unit 27; Part B

• I'm so tired, I could sleep for a week. (not I can sleep for a week)
Compare can and could:
• I can stay with Julia when I go to Paris. (realistic)
• Maybe I could stay with Julia when I go to Paris. (possible, but less sure)
• This is a wonderful place. I could stay here for ever. (unrealistic)
Unit 27; Part C

• The story could be true, but I don't think it is. (not can be true)
• I don't know what time Liz is coming. She could get here at any time.
Unit 27; Part D

• I'm so tired, I could sleep for a week. (now)
I was so tired, I could have slept for a week. (past)
• The situation is bad, but it could be worse. (now)
The situation was bad, but it could have been worse. (past)
Something could have happened = it was possible but did not happen:
• Why did you stay at a hotel when you were in Paris? You could have stayed with Julia.
(you didn't stay with her)
• I didn't know that you wanted to go to the concert. I could have got you a ticket.
(I didn't get you a ticket)
• Dave was lucky. He could have hurt himself when he fell, but he's OK.
Unit 27; Part E

• I couldn't live in a big city. I'd hate it. (= it wouldn't be possible for me)
• Everything is fine right now. Things couldn't be better.
For the past we use couldn't have (done):
• We had a really good holiday. It couldn't have been better.
• The trip was cancelled last week. Paul couldn't have gone anyway because he was ill.
(= it would not have been possible for him to go)
Exercises
![]() | Unit 26 Unit 27 Unit 28 | ![]() |
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