Bělíková Zuzana The Modal Verb Could and its Equivalents in Translation


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Blkov Zuzana The Modal Verb Could and its Equivalents in

2.4.3
 
Used to 
As ought to, used is also followed by to-infinitive. It creates only the past tense. Used to 
can take auxiliary DO when creating interrogative and negative sentences (Quirk et al. 
1972, 82). 
43) Did you use(d) to go there?
 
 
 
 
(Dušková 1988, 185) 
44) He didn’t use(d) to earn so much money as he does now. 
 (ibid.) 
Both forms (didn’t use to and didn’t used to) are grammatically correct. Didn’t is 
sometimes replaced by never (Dušková 1988, 185). 
45) I never used to smoke.
 
 
 
 
(Dušková 1988, 185) 
2.5
 
Summary 
The second chapter speaks about the group of modal verbs in general. Modal verbs belong 
to a larger unit of modal auxiliaries. This unit is described in details and specific features 
of modal auxiliaries are introduced because they are classified as a closed group with its 


Philosophical Faculty, Palacký University Olomouc 
23 
own rules. Major attention is given to modal verbs and their particular characteristics. They 
are presented from both grammatical and semantic points of views. Marginal modals are 
also mentioned since they are a subunit of modal verbs with different principles of use. All 
arguments are proved in the examples. 


Philosophical Faculty, Palacký University Olomouc 
24 
3
 
THE MODAL VERB COULD 
As mentioned above, could belongs to the group of central modal auxiliaries and creates 
the past (secondary) form. It takes all features and rules for modals and it is one of the very 
frequent ones. It is closely connected to the modal verb can
Can and could are both used to talk about ability, to ask for and give permission, and to 
make requests and offers.” (Swan 2005, 97) Could can be used as the past of can but it can 
also have a present and a future meaning (Murphy 1985, 54). Dušková (1988, 189) terms it 
as preterit could which refers to the past and its meaning is “mohl jsem” in Czech and as 
conditional could with the present and the future reference. Its Czech equivalent is “mohl 
bych”. We need a context to recognize the grammatical meaning of could (Rochowanská 
and Tárnyiková 1976, 62). 

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