English grammar
Could in the second conditional: if I could…, we could…
Talk about what you (or others) could do in an imagined situation.
From the scene If I could, I'd do it
In short
Could fits both halves of an imagined situation: if I could, I'd do it; if you told us, we could do it.
Your turn
Which one goes with result: could (= would be able to)?
Options: if I could, I'd do it myself · if I could, I'd lower your rent · we could do it together
Show answer
result: could (= would be able to) → we could do it together
How it works
Could is the past of can, so it fits both halves of an imagined situation.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
It's not that. If I (blank) it, I'd cry over every box.
Options: would do · did · do
Show answer
It's not that. If I did it, I'd cry over every box.
No es eso. Si lo hiciera, lloraría con cada caja.
Good to know
In the if-part, if I could = if I were able to: if I could, I'd do it myself.
Good to know
In the result, could = would be able to: if you told us, we could do it together. Never would in the if-part.
if + could (= were able to) if I could, I'd do it myself
Ramón
Yes. It needs clearing out. If I could, I'd do it myself.
Sí. Hay que vaciarlo. Si pudiera, lo haría yo mismo.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Yes. It needs clearing out. (blank).
Options: We could do it together · If I could, I'd lower your rent · If I could, I'd do it myself
Show answer
Ramón
Yes. It needs clearing out. If I could, I'd do it myself.
Sí. Hay que vaciarlo. Si pudiera, lo haría yo mismo.
result: could (= would be able to) we could do it together
Nuria
If you told us what you want to keep, we could do it together.
Si usted nos dijera qué quiere guardar, podríamos hacerlo juntos.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
If you told us what you want to keep, (blank).
Options: we could do it together · I'd do it myself · I'd lower your rent
Show answer
Nuria
If you told us what you want to keep, we could do it together.
Si usted nos dijera qué quiere guardar, podríamos hacerlo juntos.
if + could, + I'd if I could, I'd lower your rent
Ramón
Thank you... If I could, I'd lower your rent. But I can't.
Gracias... Si pudiera, os bajaría el alquiler. Pero no puedo.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Thank you... (blank). But I can't.
Options: If I could, I'd do it myself · We could do it together · If I could, I'd lower your rent
Show answer
Ramón
Thank you... If I could, I'd lower your rent. But I can't.
Gracias... Si pudiera, os bajaría el alquiler. Pero no puedo.
other verbs: if + past simple if I knew what to keep…
Ramón
If I knew what to keep and what to throw out... but I don't.
Si supiera qué guardar y qué tirar... pero no lo sé.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) and what to throw out... but I don't.
Options: If I knew what to keep · If I could, I'd do it myself · We could do it together
Show answer
Ramón
If I knew what to keep and what to throw out... but I don't.
Si supiera qué guardar y qué tirar... pero no lo sé.
Common mistake
Not can or would here. If I were able to.
Yes. It needs clearing out. If I could, I'd do it myself.
Sí. Hay que vaciarlo. Si pudiera, lo haría yo mismo.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| if + could (= were able to) | if I could, I'd do it myself |
|---|---|
| result: could (= would be able to) | we could do it together |
| if + could, + I'd | if I could, I'd lower your rent |
| other verbs: if + past simple | if I knew what to keep… |
More lines from the story
- RamónIt's not that. If I did it, I'd cry over every box.No es eso. Si lo hiciera, lloraría con cada caja.
- NuriaSo many things! Is all of this hers?¡Cuántas cosas! ¿Todo esto es de ella?