could be obtain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could be obtain" is not correct in English.
The correct form should be "could be obtained." You can use the corrected phrase when discussing the possibility of acquiring something in the future. Example: "The necessary resources could be obtained through various channels if we plan accordingly."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Step 5: The state of the multimedia cloud platform is defined as "{N M, SNR, N dec, N packet, P b }." When N M and d c are regular, the influence law of decodable frame ratio with P b could be obtain according to the formula (4).

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Police codes could be obtained and deciphered.

The New Yorker

"No autopsy permit could be obtained.

The New Yorker

No explanation could be obtained immediately.

The New York Times - Arts

Interesting conclusions could be obtained.

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications

The only place lapis lazuli could be obtained was Afghanistan.

The Guardian - Arts

Even prescription-only medicines could be obtained from friendly pharmacists.

The Guardian

Specific waivers could be obtained in some instances.

The New York Times - Sports

Results could be obtained within 10 min.

Analytica Chimica Acta

For Cyprus and Luxemburg no subnational data could be obtained.

Nature

More-practical lighting could be obtained from an incandescent lamp.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct passive form, "could be obtained", when indicating that something has the potential to be acquired. Ensure the verb is in its past participle form after "be".

Common error

Avoid using the base form of the verb after "could be". Always use the past participle (e.g., obtained) instead of the base form (e.g., obtain) to maintain correct grammatical structure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could be obtain" is intended to function as a passive construction indicating a possibility. However, it is grammatically incorrect, as it requires the past participle form of the verb. The corrected form, "could be obtained", functions as a passive modal verb phrase. Ludwig AI highlights this error, suggesting the proper usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "could be obtain" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "could be obtained", which uses the past participle of the verb "obtain". As Ludwig AI indicates, the incorrect phrase violates standard English grammar rules. To express the possibility of acquiring something, using the correct passive construction is essential. Common errors include using the base form of the verb instead of the past participle. The authoritative sources demonstrate the variety of contexts where the grammatically correct form is used. Therefore, always ensure the verb is in its past participle form after "could be".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could be achieved

Replaces "obtain" with a synonym that emphasizes accomplishment, altering the focus slightly.

could be acquired

Substitutes "obtain" with a synonym emphasizing the process of gaining possession, changing the nuance.

could be secured

Replaces "obtain" with a synonym that emphasizes making something safe or certain, implying a more proactive approach.

might be obtained

Replaces "could" with "might", weakening the degree of possibility.

can be obtained

Replaces "could" with "can", shifting from potential to capability.

may be obtained

Replaces "could" with "may", expressing a slightly weaker possibility or permission.

is it possible to obtain

Reformulates the phrase as a question about the possibility of obtaining something.

it is possible to obtain

Restructures the phrase to emphasize the possibility using a different grammatical structure.

it is obtainable

Replaces the verb phrase with an adjective describing the possibility of obtaining something.

is it feasible to obtain

Replaces "possible" with "feasible", focusing on practicality and convenience.

FAQs

How should I correctly use "could be obtained" in a sentence?

Use "could be obtained" to indicate that something is possible to acquire or achieve. For example: "The necessary data "could be obtained" from the survey results."

What is the difference between "could be obtained" and "can be obtained"?

"Could be obtained" suggests a possibility or potential, while "can be obtained" implies a capability or ability. The former is more tentative, whereas the latter is more definitive.

What are some alternatives to "could be obtained"?

You can use alternatives like "could be achieved", "could be acquired", or "might be obtained" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "could be obtain" grammatically correct, and if not, why?

No, "could be obtain" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""could be obtained"". The verb following "be" in passive constructions must be in the past participle form.