Usos de Could e Might

Could = passado de can (sabia/podia) OU pedido educado OU possibilidade.
Might = possibilidade no presente/futuro (talvez aconteça).

could — capacidade no passado

When I was 6, I could swim. (Com 6 anos, eu sabia nadar.)

could — pedido educado

Could you help me, please? (Poderia ajudar-me?)

could — possibilidade

It could rain later. (Pode ser que chova mais tarde.)

might — possibilidade

She might come to the party. (Talvez ela venha à festa.)

Could para capacidade no passado

sujeito + could + verbo base

Afirmativa

I could read when I was 5. (Eu já sabia ler aos 5 anos.)

Negativa

She couldn't come yesterday. (Ela não pôde vir ontem.)

Pergunta

Could you swim as a child? (Sabias nadar em criança?)

Could vs Can em pedidos

Informal — Can

Can you help me?

com amigos e família

Educado — Could

Could you help me, please?

situações formais / desconhecidos

Forma Negativa: couldn't e might not

couldn't

She couldn't find her keys. (Não conseguiu encontrar as chaves.)

might not

He might not come tonight. (Talvez não venha logo à noite.)

Modais nunca usam "to" nem "-s" na 3ª pessoa: might come (NÃO mights to come).

Erros comuns (Erros típicos)

She could to swim.

→

She could swim.

sem "to" depois de could

She might comes.

→

She might come.

modais não levam -s

It mights rain.

→

It might rain.

forma invariável: might

Resumo: Could & Might

could

capacidade no passado · pedido educado · possibilidade

I could swim / Could you help?

might

possibilidade presente/futura

She might come tonight.

Negativa

couldn't / might not

I couldn't go / He might not come

Ir para os Exercícios →

Modais: Could & Might