Video lesson · Can / Could / Be Able to

Permission / Prohibition in the Past

Name: Could and couldn't for past permission and prohibition, video
Uploaded: 2026-05-31T15:18:45.976Z
Duration: 27 s
Description: 27-second video: could for what was allowed in the past, couldn't for what was not. Examples: We could do what we wanted, you couldn't smoke in restaurants.

Video explanation · 0:27

Permission/Prohibition in the Past refers to using could and couldn't to express what was allowed or not allowed in the past. Could indicates past permission, couldn't expresses past prohibition.

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