Could, would, should

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 3

Could

Could is de Engelse versie van ‘kon’ en ‘zou kunnen’. We gebruiken het op verschillende manieren:

• Als verledentijdsvorm van ‘can’ gebruik je could om aan te geven dat iets in het verleden mogelijk was, bijvoorbeeld ‘I could speak French then, but I have forgotten most of it now.’
  
• Om een mogelijkheid in de toekomst aan te geven: ‘We could have a look at the new plans tomorrow’ of ‘They could come visit us next Thursday.’
  
• Voor vragen en verzoeken in het Engels komt could beleefder over dan can: ‘Could you please pass me that book?’ of ‘I’d love it if you could bake me a chocolate cake.’

WOULD

Would is de Engelse versie van ‘zou’ en ‘zou willen’. Ook dit woord heeft verschillende toepassingen:

• Om een beleefde vraag te stellen: ‘Would you like another cup of coffee?’ of ‘Would you mind helping me out with this?’
  
• Om vragen in het algemeen te stellen: ‘What would you do if….?’ of ‘When would you like to come over?’
  
• Voor hypothetische situaties of mogelijkheden in de toekomst: ‘I would love to come see your new house’ of ‘If I had more money, I would travel around the world.’  

SHOULD

Kan vertaald worden als ‘moet’ en ‘zou/zal moeten’. Should kun je op de volgende manieren gebruiken:

• Om aan te geven dat iets waarschijnlijk gaat gebeuren: ‘Alice should be here by 11 o’clock.’
  
• Om advies te geven of vragen of om aan te geven dat iets (eigenlijk) zou moeten gebeuren: ‘You should ask your manager for a raise, you deserve it!’ of ‘Do you think I should wear this green sweater?’
  
• Om vragen te stellen: ‘Should I turn left here?’ of ‘Should I really have eaten all those cookies?’

..... you please turn on the fan? It is very hot in here.

1. would
2. could
3. should
4. wouldn't

You ....... eat more fruit and vegetables

1. could
2. would
3. should
4. wouldn't

...... you turn the music down please, it is too loud

1. could
2. would
3. should
4. couldn't

Kids .......... spend so much time on the computer. They ........go out and play games.

1. shouldn't / would
2. couldn't/ should
3. shouldn't/ should
4. wouldn't / could

If I were the president of the board,
I ........... make several changes.

1. could
2. should
3. would
4. should't

When he was young, he .........
speak English very well, but now he can

1. could
2. would
3. should
4. couldn't