MDCO YAML source
code: MDCO
mfte_code: MDCO
bohmann_number: 17
name: Modal COULD
definition: The modal verb "could".
normalization: finite_verbs
parent: POMD_ALL
detection:
- source: mfte
requires:
- lemma
- pos
cql: '[lemma={words} & pos="MD"]'
words:
- could
- source: pybiber
requires:
- lemma
- pos
cql: '[lemma={words} & pos="MD"]'
words:
- could
- requires:
- word
- pos
cql: '[word="could" & pos="MD"]'
examples:
- text: Do you think someone _could_ have killed her?
source: le_foll_2024
- text: Well, that _could_ be the problem.
source: le_foll_2024
- text: _Could_ you do it by Friday?
source: le_foll_2024
sources:
- biber_1988
- mfte
- bohmann_2019
notes: Part of Biber's grouped "possibility modals".