we could contain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we could contain" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the ability to control or limit something, often in a hypothetical or conditional context. Example: "If we work together, we could contain the spread of misinformation in our community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"Before, we could contain him.

The New York Times

"It would be naïve to think we could contain this virus".

The New York Times

"The idea was that perhaps we could contain it," Mr. Gerrish said.

The New York Times

Reed had arrived already the worse for wear, but we had felt we could contain him.

The Guardian

Even as we shop with abandon, we feel that if only we could contain our unruly desires, we'd be committing ourselves to a better future.

The New York Times

Duffy however commented in a statement released by the University yesterday, saying: "While we had made it clear to occupiers that their sit-in was unacceptable, we had tolerated it for several weeks because we could contain it without undue disruption to the day-to-day operation of the University.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

We predict regions that could contain epitope-binding sites, which might be good vaccine targets.

FEMS Microbiology Reviews

We recently reported that lack of proteasome function and subunit expression is a feature of therapy-resistant, tumorigenic cells in breast cancer and glioma [ 16, 21, 25], therefore we hypothesized that HNSCCs could contain a similar cell population.

BMC Cancer

Given the critical role of PP2A in the control of apoptotic events and in consistence with the rational of our DPT concept, we hypothesized that DPT-Vpr1 could contain a naturally occurring pro-apoptotic DPT-sequence.

Plosone

Nothing could contain it.

The Guardian - Books

It could contain communities.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we could contain" to express a conditional ability or a hypothetical scenario where containment is possible. For instance, "With additional resources, we could contain the spread of the virus."

Common error

Avoid using "we could contain" when the possibility of containment is highly unlikely or impossible. Instead, use phrases that reflect a more realistic assessment of the situation, such as "we can try to mitigate" or "we hope to limit".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we could contain" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing possibility or conditional ability. It indicates a potential action that could be taken under certain circumstances. Ludwig provides examples where this phrase is used in contexts ranging from managing viruses to controlling personal desires.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we could contain" is a grammatically correct modal verb phrase that expresses the possibility or hypothetical ability to limit or control something. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in written English. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts, but also appears in scientific and formal business settings. While not extremely common, its usage is consistent and clear. When using this phrase, it's important to consider the level of certainty and avoid overstating the likelihood of containment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were able to contain

Emphasizes past ability and successful containment.

we might contain

Suggests a possibility of containment, less certain than "could".

we may be able to contain

Expresses a potential future ability to contain.

we have the capacity to contain

Highlights the possession of resources or abilities necessary for containment.

we are in a position to contain

Indicates a current favorable situation that allows for containment.

it is possible to contain

Focuses on the general possibility of containment, without specifying the actor.

containment is within our reach

Emphasizes that containment is achievable with current efforts.

we can keep under control

Uses a more general term for "contain", focusing on maintaining control.

we are capable of controlling

Highlights the inherent ability to control something.

we have the power to restrain

Emphasizes the strength and authority to limit or hold back.

FAQs

How can I use "we could contain" in a sentence?

Use "we could contain" to suggest a hypothetical ability to limit or control something, often with certain conditions. For example, "If we act now, we could contain the damage".

What's the difference between "we could contain" and "we can contain"?

"We could contain" suggests a possibility or hypothetical scenario, whereas "we can contain" implies a present ability or certainty. The former is less assertive than the latter.

What can I say instead of "we could contain"?

You can use alternatives like "we might control", "we could manage", or "we may be able to limit" depending on the context.

Is "we could contained" grammatically correct?

No, "we could contained" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "we could contain", where "contain" is the base form of the verb following the modal verb "could".