couldn in the Oxford-Paravia Italian Dictionary

Translations for couldn in the English»Italian Dictionary

couldn't [Brit ˈkʊd(ə)nt, Am ˈkʊdnt] contr.

couldn't → could not

could've [Brit ˈkʊdəv, Am ˈkʊdəv] contr.

could've → could have

couldst [Am kʊdst]

couldst (2ª persona sing. pres.) arch → could

See also could

could [Brit kəd, kʊd, Am kʊd, kəd] VB mod Could is formally the past tense and the conditional of can. As the past tense of can, could is translated by the appropriate past tense in the indicative: I couldn't leave the children = non potevo lasciare i bambini/non potei lasciare i bambini; few people could read or write = poche persone sapevano leggere o scrivere; he couldn't sleep for weeks = non è riuscito a dormire per settimane; we could hear them laughing = li sentivamo ridere. When preceded by and dependent on a verb in the past tense, could + verb is translated by the past conditional of the appropriate Italian verb: I was sure you could do it = ero sicuro che saresti riuscito a farlo. In reported speech, could is translated by the appropriate past tense, according to the rules of Italian grammar (see…..): she never told us she could speak Chinese = non ci ha mai detto che sapeva parlare il cinese. - For more examples, particular usages and all other uses of; could see this entry.

1. could (expressing possibility):

it could be that…

potrebbe essere che

could be inf

forse

they could be dead

potrebbero essere morti

it could be a trap

potrebbe essere una trappola

I could be wrong

potrei sbagliarmi

this could be our most important match

potrebbe essere la nostra partita più importante

the engine could explode

il motore potrebbe esplodere

it could be seen as an insult

potrebbe essere considerato un insulto

it could be argued that …

si potrebbe sostenere che …

could it have something to do with the delay?

potrebbe avere a che fare con il ritardo?

you could have been electrocuted!

avresti potuto rimanere folgorato!

“did she know?” - “no, how could she?”

“lo sapeva?” - “no, come avrebbe potuto?”

nothing could be simpler

non c'è niente di più semplice

2. could (asking permission):

could I interrupt?

posso interromperla?

3. could (making polite requests):

could I speak to John?

potrei parlare con John?

could she spend the night with you?

potrebbe dormire da te?

you couldn't come earlier, could you?

non potresti arrivare prima, vero?

couldn't you give us another chance?

non potrebbe darci un'altra possibilità?

4. could (when making suggestions):

we could try and phone him

potremmo provare a telefonargli

couldn't they go camping instead?

non potrebbero invece andare in campeggio?

5. could (having ability or power to):

if only we could stay

se solo potessimo restare

I wish I could have been there

avrei voluto essere lì

I wish I could go to Japan

mi piacerebbe andare in Giappone

6. could (expressing likelihood, assumption):

he couldn't be more than 10 years old

non dovrebbe avere or non avrà più di 10 anni

7. could (expressing willingness to act):

I couldn't leave the children (wouldn't want to)

non potrei lasciare i bambini

8. could (expressing a reproach):

they could have warned us

avrebbero potuto avvertirci

you could at least say sorry!

potresti almeno chiedere scusa!

how could you!

come hai potuto!

9. could (expressing surprise):

who could it be?

chi potrebbe mai essere?

where could they have hidden it?

dove mai potrebbero averlo nascosto?

10. could (for emphasis):

I couldn't agree more!

d'accordissimo! or sono completamente d'accordo!

they couldn't have been nicer

non avrebbero potuto essere più gentili (di così)

you couldn't be more mistaken

ti sbagli di grosso

11. could (expressing exasperation):

I was so mad I could have screamed!

avrei potuto urlare tanto ero arrabbiato!

I could murder him! inf

l'ammazzerei!

12. could (avoiding repetition of verb):

as excited as could be

eccitatissimo

shouldn't [Brit ˈʃʊd(ə)nt, Am ˈʃʊdnt] contr.

shouldn't → should not

wouldn't [Brit ˈwʊd(ə)nt, Am ˈwʊdnt] contr.

wouldn't → would not

coulee [Brit ˈkuːli, Am ˈkuli, kuˈleɪ] N Am

1. coulee (ravine):

coulee

gola f

2. coulee (stream):

coulee

borro m

coulee

ruscello m con flusso irregolare d'acqua

couloir [Brit ˈkuːlwɑː, Am kulˈwɑr] N GEOG

couloir

canalone m

skim-coulter [ˈskɪmˌkəʊltə(r)] N

skim-coulter

avanvomere m

could [Brit kəd, kʊd, Am kʊd, kəd] VB mod Could is formally the past tense and the conditional of can. As the past tense of can, could is translated by the appropriate past tense in the indicative: I couldn't leave the children = non potevo lasciare i bambini/non potei lasciare i bambini; few people could read or write = poche persone sapevano leggere o scrivere; he couldn't sleep for weeks = non è riuscito a dormire per settimane; we could hear them laughing = li sentivamo ridere. When preceded by and dependent on a verb in the past tense, could + verb is translated by the past conditional of the appropriate Italian verb: I was sure you could do it = ero sicuro che saresti riuscito a farlo. In reported speech, could is translated by the appropriate past tense, according to the rules of Italian grammar (see…..): she never told us she could speak Chinese = non ci ha mai detto che sapeva parlare il cinese. - For more examples, particular usages and all other uses of; could see this entry.

1. could (expressing possibility):

it could be that…

potrebbe essere che

could be inf

forse

they could be dead

potrebbero essere morti

it could be a trap

potrebbe essere una trappola

I could be wrong

potrei sbagliarmi

this could be our most important match

potrebbe essere la nostra partita più importante

the engine could explode

il motore potrebbe esplodere

it could be seen as an insult

potrebbe essere considerato un insulto

it could be argued that …

si potrebbe sostenere che …

could it have something to do with the delay?

potrebbe avere a che fare con il ritardo?

you could have been electrocuted!

avresti potuto rimanere folgorato!

“did she know?” - “no, how could she?”

“lo sapeva?” - “no, come avrebbe potuto?”

nothing could be simpler

non c'è niente di più semplice

2. could (asking permission):

could I interrupt?

posso interromperla?

3. could (making polite requests):

could I speak to John?

potrei parlare con John?

could she spend the night with you?

potrebbe dormire da te?

you couldn't come earlier, could you?

non potresti arrivare prima, vero?

couldn't you give us another chance?

non potrebbe darci un'altra possibilità?

4. could (when making suggestions):

we could try and phone him

potremmo provare a telefonargli

couldn't they go camping instead?

non potrebbero invece andare in campeggio?

5. could (having ability or power to):

if only we could stay

se solo potessimo restare

I wish I could have been there

avrei voluto essere lì

I wish I could go to Japan

mi piacerebbe andare in Giappone

6. could (expressing likelihood, assumption):

he couldn't be more than 10 years old

non dovrebbe avere or non avrà più di 10 anni

7. could (expressing willingness to act):

I couldn't leave the children (wouldn't want to)

non potrei lasciare i bambini

8. could (expressing a reproach):

they could have warned us

avrebbero potuto avvertirci

you could at least say sorry!

potresti almeno chiedere scusa!

how could you!

come hai potuto!

9. could (expressing surprise):

who could it be?

chi potrebbe mai essere?

where could they have hidden it?

dove mai potrebbero averlo nascosto?

10. could (for emphasis):

I couldn't agree more!

d'accordissimo! or sono completamente d'accordo!

they couldn't have been nicer

non avrebbero potuto essere più gentili (di così)

you couldn't be more mistaken

ti sbagli di grosso

11. could (expressing exasperation):

I was so mad I could have screamed!

avrei potuto urlare tanto ero arrabbiato!

I could murder him! inf

l'ammazzerei!

12. could (avoiding repetition of verb):

as excited as could be

eccitatissimo

coulter [Brit ˈkəʊltə, Am ˈkoʊltər] N

coulter

coltro m

couldn in the PONS Dictionary

Translations for couldn in the English»Italian Dictionary

wouldn't [ˈwʊ·dənt]

wouldn't = would not, would

See also would

would [wʊd] VB aux pt of will

1. would (future in the past):

he said he would do it later on

disse che lo avrebbe fatto dopo

2. would (future seeing past in the past):

we thought they would have done it before

pensammo che lo avrebbero fatto prima

3. would (intention in the past):

he said he would always love her

disse che l'avrebbe sempre amata

4. would (shows possibility):

I'd go myself, but I'm too busy

ci andrei io, ma sono troppo impegnato

it would have been very boring to do that

sarebbe stato molto noioso farlo

5. would (conditional):

what would you do if you lost your job?

cosa faresti se tu rimanessi senza lavoro?

I would have done it if you had asked

lo avrei fatto se tu l'avessi chiesto

6. would (polite request):

if you would just wait a moment, I'll see if I can find her

se aspetta un attimo, vado a cercarla

would you phone him, please?

mi farebbe la cortesia di chiamarlo?

would you mind saying that again?

le dispiacerebbe ripetere?

would you like …?

vuole…?

would you like me to come with you?

vuoi che ti accompagni?

7. would (regularity in past):

they would help each other with their homework

si aiutavano a fare i compiti

8. would (stresses as being typical):

of course the bus would be late when I'm in a hurry

come sempre l'autobus è in ritardo quando ho fretta

he would say that, wouldn't he?

c'era da aspettarselo che lo dicesse, no?

9. would (courteous opinion):

I would imagine that …

suppongo che…

I wouldn't have thought that …

non avrei mai pensato che…

10. would (probably):

the guy on the phone had an Australian accent — that would be Tom, I expect

il ragazzo al telefono aveva l'accento australiano — doveva essere Tom

11. would (shows preference):

I would rather have water

preferisco l'acqua

I would rather die than do that

preferirei morire piuttosto di fare una cosa simile

12. would (offering polite advice):

I wouldn't worry, if I were you

al tuo posto non mi starei a preoccupare

13. would (asking motives):

why would anyone want to do something like that?

per quale motivo uno farebbe una cosa del genere?

14. would (shows a wish):

ah, would I were richer and younger!

ah, se fossi più ricco e più giovane!

would that he were here!

ah se solo fosse qui lui!

could [kʊd] VB

could pt, pp can

See also can², can¹

can² <could, could> [kən] VB aux

1. can (be able to):

can

potere

can

essere in grado di

if I could

se potessi

I think she can help you

penso che lei possa aiutarti

I could have kissed her

avrei potuto baciarla

2. can inf (be permitted to):

can

potere

you can't go

non puoi andare

could I look at it?

potrei vederlo?

3. can (know how to):

can

sapere

can

essere capace di

can you swim?

sai nuotare?

I.can¹ [kæn] N

1. can (container):

can of food

scatola f

can of food

barattolo m

can of drink

lattina f

can of oil

bidone m

2. can inf (toilet):

can

cesso m

3. can inf (prison):

can

galera f

Phrases:

to open (up) a can of worms

sollevare un vespaio

II.can¹ <-nn-> [kæn] VB trans

1. can (put in cans):

can

inscatolare

2. can inf (stop):

can it!

basta!

would-be [ˈwʊd·bi:] ADJ

1. would-be (wishing to be):

would-be

aspirante

a would-be politician

un aspirante politico

2. would-be (pretending to be):

would-be

sedicente

should [ʃʊd] VB aux

1. should (expression of advisability):

to insist that sb should do sth

insistere perché qu faccia qc

2. should (asking for advice):

should I/we …?

devo/dobbiamo …?

3. should (expression of expectation):

I should be so lucky! inf

magari fossi così fortunato!

4. should form (expressing a condition):

I should like to see her

mi piacerebbe vederla

5. should (rhetorical expression):

why should I/you …?

perché dovrei/dovresti …?

6. should form (would):

we should like to invite you

ci piacerebbe invitarla

boulder [ˈboʊl·dɚ] N

boulder

masso m

would [wʊd] VB aux pt of will

1. would (future in the past):

he said he would do it later on

disse che lo avrebbe fatto dopo

2. would (future seeing past in the past):

we thought they would have done it before

pensammo che lo avrebbero fatto prima

3. would (intention in the past):

he said he would always love her

disse che l'avrebbe sempre amata

4. would (shows possibility):

I'd go myself, but I'm too busy

ci andrei io, ma sono troppo impegnato

it would have been very boring to do that

sarebbe stato molto noioso farlo

5. would (conditional):

what would you do if you lost your job?

cosa faresti se tu rimanessi senza lavoro?

I would have done it if you had asked

lo avrei fatto se tu l'avessi chiesto

6. would (polite request):

if you would just wait a moment, I'll see if I can find her

se aspetta un attimo, vado a cercarla

would you phone him, please?

mi farebbe la cortesia di chiamarlo?

would you mind saying that again?

le dispiacerebbe ripetere?

would you like …?

vuole…?

would you like me to come with you?

vuoi che ti accompagni?

7. would (regularity in past):

they would help each other with their homework

si aiutavano a fare i compiti

8. would (stresses as being typical):

of course the bus would be late when I'm in a hurry

come sempre l'autobus è in ritardo quando ho fretta

he would say that, wouldn't he?

c'era da aspettarselo che lo dicesse, no?

9. would (courteous opinion):

I would imagine that …

suppongo che…

I wouldn't have thought that …

non avrei mai pensato che…

10. would (probably):

the guy on the phone had an Australian accent — that would be Tom, I expect

il ragazzo al telefono aveva l'accento australiano — doveva essere Tom

11. would (shows preference):

I would rather have water

preferisco l'acqua

I would rather die than do that

preferirei morire piuttosto di fare una cosa simile

12. would (offering polite advice):

I wouldn't worry, if I were you

al tuo posto non mi starei a preoccupare

13. would (asking motives):

why would anyone want to do something like that?

per quale motivo uno farebbe una cosa del genere?

14. would (shows a wish):

ah, would I were richer and younger!

ah, se fossi più ricco e più giovane!

would that he were here!

ah se solo fosse qui lui!

See also will², will¹

I.will² [wɪl] N

1. will:

will (faculty)

volontà f

will (desire)

voglia f

the will of the people

la volontà del popolo

to have the will to do sth

voler fare qc

to lose the will to live

perdere la volontà di vivere

at will

a volontà/piacere

2. will (testament):

will

testamento m

Phrases:

where there's a will, there's a way prov

volere è potere prov

with the best will in the world

con tutta la buona volontà del mondo

to have a will of one's own

essere caparbio

II.will² [wɪl] VB trans

1. will (try to cause by will-power):

will

volere

to will sb to do sth

esortare qu a fare qc

2. will form (ordain):

will

volere

God willed it and it was so

Dio lo ha voluto e così è stato

3. will (bequeath):

will

lasciare per testamento

I.will¹ <would, would> [wɪl] VB aux

1. will (to form future tense):

they'll be delighted

saranno felicissimi

I'll be with you in a minute

dammi solo un momento

I expect they'll come by car

suppongo che vengano in auto

I'll answer the telephone

rispondo io al telefono

she will have received the letter by now

avrà già ricevuto la lettera

2. will (with tag question):

you won't forget to tell him, will you?

non dimenticarti di dirglielo!

they will accept this credit card in the pizzeria, won't they?

questa carta di credito l'accetteranno in pizzeria, no?

3. will (to express immediate future):

we'll be off now

ora ce ne andiamo

I'll be going then

allora me ne vado

there's someone at the door — I'll go

hanno suonato il campanello — vado io

4. will (to express an intention):

sb will do that

qu lo farà

I'll not be spoken to like that!

non permetto che mi si parli così!

5. will (in requests and instructions):

will you let me speak!?

mi fai parlare!

just pass me that knife, will you?

mi passi il coltello?

give me a hand, will you?

mi dai una mano?

6. will (in polite requests):

will you sit down?

prego, si sieda

will you be having a slice of cake?

vuole un pezzo di torta?

7. will (used to express willingness):

who'll mail this letter for me? — I will

chi m'imbuca questa lettera? — lo faccio io

will you do that for me? — of course I will

puoi farmelo? — certamente

8. will (used to express a fact):

eat it now, it won't keep

mangialo ora, se no va a male

the car won't run without gasoline

la macchina non funziona senza benzina

9. will (to express persistence):

he will keep doing that

continuerà a farlo

they will keep sending me those brochures

non smetteranno di mandarmi quei dépliant

the door won't open

la porta non si apre

10. will (to express likelihood):

they'll be tired

saranno stanchi

as you will all probably know already…

come tutti probabilmente sapranno…

II.will¹ <would, would> [wɪl] VB intr form

will

volere

as you will

come vuole