How might 'could' express a past ability that was unexpected?

Dec 18, 2018 ... 1974 Likes, 3 Comments - english grammar_vocabulary✌ (@english_grammar_vocabulary_) on Instagram: “Difference between can and could Follow ... Jan 11, 2015 ... The difference between should, could, and would is difficult for many English learners – this lesson will help you understand when to use each one! Oct 26, 2023 ... In some cases, 'could' functions as the past tense of 'can', but there are some important usage differences between the two. The modal verb 'can ... Both can and could (and other modals, especially may and might) are used to express various kinds of possibility, ability, permission and potential. Oct 14, 2012 ... 'Can' essentially indicates ability. Usually it's used for general ability, although nowadays more and more people also use it to indicate permission. As the page says, can is used for general statements about possibility while could is more specific. In your examples, the first sentence is a general statement ... Jun 6, 2024 ... “Can” is used to express present ability or possibility, such as in the sentences “I can swim” and “You can reach me by phone.” On the other ... Sep 17, 2022 ... As a college professor now, I can tell you that my students leave my classroom with much greater tools to do good in the world than when they ... That would allow you to try your case in regular court. You could even change your mind again and return to Small Claims by reducing your claim. There can also ... Do you use “can” and “could” correctly in English? Join me and learn how to use these two important modal verbs, in terms of grammar, vocabulary, ...