The modality of “could” refers to its ability to express possibility or potentiality in English. When used in this context, “could” indicates that something is possible or feasible but not definite or certain. It suggests that there is a chance or opportunity for something to happen, but it is not guaranteed.
In the English Grammar Profile, B1 point 103 in modality is defined as:
‘could’ to talk about possibility.
PELIC STUDENT EXAMPLE:
My father told us if you recovered soon, then he could either buy gifts for us that we like
or he could take all family members to see the music show that we really want to attend.
Chinese, Female, Level 4, writing class
In this sentence, the condition is “if you recovered soon.” The use of “could” indicates that there are two potential actions or choices available to the father, but they are dependent on the condition being met. The possibilities expressed by “could” are:
- “He could either buy gifts for us that we like”: This option suggests that if the person referred to as “you” in the sentence recovers soon, the father has the possibility of buying gifts that the family members would enjoy.
- “He could take all family members to see the music show that we really want to attend”: This option implies that if the person referred to as “you” recovers soon, the father has the possibility of taking the entire family to a music show that they are eager to attend.
Both possibilities are presented as conditional outcomes, contingent upon the recovery of the person mentioned in the sentence.
Overall, in this context, “could” is used to express the potential actions that the father has the ability or option to take if the condition of a speedy recovery is fulfilled. It conveys the idea of possibility and provides alternative choices based on that condition.
This grammar usage requires manual interpretation and is therefore hard to differentiate it from uses that range from c2-a2. However, one particular formal vocabulary point found in both examples given in the EGP is the adverb ‘really.’
But believe me, it could be really fun…
Could this really happen? Could he really be there…
For this reason, we will just search for this Ngram.
could * really *
B1 vocabulary: blame figure helpful argue complain creative handle imagine taste ugly valuable
1 COULDN’T REALLY TELL 548
2 COULD IT REALLY BE 525
3 COULDN’T REALLY SEE 508
4 COULDN’T REALLY FIND 474
5 COULDN’T REALLY GET 438
6 COULDN’T REALLY BE 370
7 COULD BE REALLY GOOD 366
8 COULDN’T REALLY DO 311
9 COULD BE REALLY USEFUL 267
10 COULD THIS REALLY BE 203
11 COULDN’T REALLY SAY 195
12 COULDN’T REALLY AFFORD 191
13 COULD BE REALLY COOL 180
14 COULD BE REALLY HELPFUL 177
Inverse15 COULD NEVER REALLY GET 172
16 COULDN’T REALLY UNDERSTAND 162
17 COULD WORK REALLY WELL 162
18 COULD BE REALLY INTERESTING 157
19 COULDN’T REALLY HAVE 152
20 COULD NOT REALLY BE 150
21 COULD BE REALLY FUN 141
22 COULD HAVE REALLY USED 128
23 COULD THERE REALLY BE 117
24 COULD BE REALLY BAD 115
25 COULDN’T REALLY MAKE 111
26 COULD DO REALLY WELL 109
27 COULDN’T REALLY HEAR 101
28 COULD BE REALLY GREAT 91
29 COULDN’T REALLY GIVE 91
30 COULDN’T REALLY GO 91
31 COULD NEVER REALLY BE 89
32 COULD BE REALLY , 88
33 COULDN’T REALLY CARE 88
34 COULDN’T REALLY FIGURE 85
35 COULDN’T REALLY EXPLAIN 80
36 COULD BE REALLY NICE 76
37 COULDN’T REALLY THINK 75
38 COULDN’T REALLY FEEL 72
39 COULD ONLY REALLY BE 72
40 COULDN’T REALLY BELIEVE 71
41 COULD I REALLY BE 68
42 COULD HAVE REALLY BEEN 66
43 COULDN’T REALLY ASK 66
44 COULDN’T REALLY USE 66
45 COULD BE REALLY IMPORTANT 64
46 COULDN’T REALLY PUT 63
47 COULD NOT REALLY FIND 63
48 COULDN’T REALLY TALK 61
49 COULD THAT REALLY BE 60
50 COULDN’T REALLY HELP 58
51 COULD NOT REALLY SEE 58
52 COULDN’T REALLY REMEMBER 56
53 COULD THEY REALLY BE 55
54 COULDN’T REALLY PLAY 54
55 COULDN’T REALLY TAKE 54
56 COULD HE REALLY BE 52
57 COULD GET REALLY INTERESTING 51
58 COULDN’T REALLY BLAME 50
Grand Tour Nation
The Hollywood Gossip
Derry Now
59 COULDN’T REALLY COME 49
60 COULD BE REALLY BENEFICIAL 48
61 COULD BE REALLY HANDY 48
62 COULDN’T REALLY ANSWER 47
63 COULD NOT REALLY TELL 46
64 COULD BE REALLY DANGEROUS 45
65 COULDN’T REALLY WORK 45
66 COULD HAVE REALLY DONE 43
67 COULDN’T REALLY SPEAK 43
68 COULD EVER REALLY BE 42
69 COULDN’T REALLY TASTE 42
70 COULD SHE REALLY BE 42
71 COULD HAVE REALLY HELPED 41
72 COULDN’T REALLY MOVE 41
73 COULD BE REALLY HARD 40
74 COULDN’T REALLY CALL 40
75 COULDN’T REALLY HANDLE 40
76 COULD HE REALLY HAVE 39
77 COULDN’T REALLY IMAGINE 39
78 COULD BE REALLY BIG 37
79 COULD BE REALLY EFFECTIVE 37
80 COULD NEVER REALLY UNDERSTAND 37
81 COULD GET REALLY UGLY 36
82 COULDN’T REALLY ARGUE 36
83 COULD NOT REALLY AFFORD 36
84 COULD YOU REALLY BE 36
85 COULD BE REALLY EASY 35
86 COULD GET REALLY CREATIVE 35
87 COULD NOT REALLY GET 35
88 COULD HAVE REALLY MADE 34
89 COULDN’T REALLY JUSTIFY 34
90 COULD WE REALLY BE 34
91 COULD BE REALLY EXCITING 33
92 COULD NOT REALLY HAVE 33
93 COULDN’T REALLY READ 32
94 COULD HAVE REALLY HURT 31
95 COULDN’T REALLY KEEP 31
96 COULDN’T REALLY PICK 31
97 COULD THIS REALLY HAPPEN 31
98 COULD NEVER REALLY FIND 30
99 COULD BE REALLY VALUABLE 29
100 COULDN’T REALLY COMPLAIN 29