she could

USAGE SUMMARY

"she could" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about possibility or capability. For example: She could become a great scientist if she applied herself.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She could not see.

The New York Times

She could never compete.

The New York Times - Arts

She could be ambitious.

The Economist

"She could see it".

The New York Times

She could, she said.

The New York Times

She could not.

The New York Times

She could be trusted.

The New York Times

She could have lied.

The New York Times

She could not write..

The New Yorker

She could see everything!

The New Yorker

She could not breathe.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "she could" to express possibilities, abilities, or potential actions in a hypothetical or future context. It's versatile for suggesting options or capabilities.

Common error

Avoid using "she could" when referring to a definite action in the past. Use "she was able to" or "she managed to" instead to indicate successful completion of an action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she could" primarily functions as a modal verb phrase. It combines a pronoun ("she") with the modal verb "could" to express possibility, ability, permission, or suggestion. Ludwig AI indicates that this construction is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "she could" is a versatile modal verb phrase used to express possibility, ability, permission, or suggestion. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in a wide range of contexts. While it appears most frequently in news and media, its application extends to scientific, formal, and informal writing. When using "she could", ensure it aligns with the intended meaning—possibility rather than definite past action—and consider "she might" for a lower degree of certainty. Ludwig's examples provide a helpful framework for understanding its various applications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she might

Indicates a slightly lower probability than "she could".

she may

Similar to "she might", suggesting possibility.

she is able to

Focuses on the ability rather than the possibility.

she is capable of

Emphasizes inherent capability.

she would be able to

Expresses a conditional ability.

it is possible for her to

More formal way to express possibility.

she has the potential to

Highlights the potential for future capability.

she is in a position to

Indicates that she has the necessary resources or circumstances.

she can potentially

Combines ability and possibility.

she has the capacity to

Similar to 'she is capable of' but emphasizes innate capacity.

FAQs

How do I use "she could" in a sentence?

Use "she could" to express a possibility, ability, or suggestion. For example, "She could become a doctor if she studies hard", or "Maybe she could go to the party with us".

What is a more formal alternative to "she could"?

A more formal alternative is "it is possible for her to". For example, instead of "She could attend the meeting", you could say "It is possible for her to attend the meeting".

What's the difference between "she could" and "she can"?

"She can" indicates a current ability or a general truth, while "she could" suggests a possibility, a past ability, or a conditional situation. For example, "She can speak French" (current ability) vs. "She could speak French when she was younger" (past ability).

When should I use "she might" instead of "she could"?

Use "she might" when expressing a lower degree of certainty or possibility compared to "she could". "She might go" suggests a weaker possibility than "she could go".