There are some English phrases that you probably won’t find in a text book or hear about when you study English at school but they are used often by native speakers in everyday dialogue and ‘I could do with’ is one of those. If you can use it in conversation in an appropriate situation, it will make your speaking sound very natural!
What does it mean?
We use I could do with….. to talk about something that we want or something that would make our lives easier/better in that moment.
Watch the video and then look at the other examples below so that you can make sure you’re using it in the best way possible:
How can I use ‘I could do with’ in real life?
Here are 5 natural examples:
Perhaps you are cutting a loaf of bread and the knife is blunt so it’s hard work so you say to your boyfriend: “I could do with a sharper knife really. Can you pass me one from that drawer.”
Perhaps you are in a clothes shop with your friend so you say to your friend: “I could do with a new pair of black trousers for work. My other ones are looking a bit old now.”
Perhaps you are confused about how your new laptop works so you say to your grandchild: “I could do with your help when you’ve finished your homework!”
Perhaps you are spending too much time in the office at the moment and you feel tired and in need of a break so you say to your wife: “I could do with having some time off work. I’ll speak to the boss about my holiday allowance tomorrow.”
Perhaps you are cooking and you ask your brother to taste the sauce and he says: “It’s not bad but it could do with a bit more salt.”
Language patterns
Notice the structure of this phrase:
I could do with + noun (a sharper knife, some new trousers, your help)
I could do with + ing verb (having some time off)
It could do with + noun (a bit more salt)
Writing challenge
Is there anything that you need/want in your life right now? I’d love to hear your example, post it in the comments below 🙂
14 Responses
It does mean:It or he or she need.
My example:
I could do with studying English hard.
You are on the right lines Hend. I would say it’s somewhere between ‘a want’ and ‘a need’ or something that would make your life better/easier in that moment (e.g. I could do with a holiday!). Your example is good but sounds slightly unnatural, possibly due to the lack of context. I think a noun would make it sound more natural. How about ‘I could do with some English lessons’ or ‘I could do with a week of intensive English study’? If you wanted to use a verb, perhaps ‘I could do with spending a few weeks just focusing on my English’ would express what you mean?
I hope that helps. Thanks for trying my challenge. Feel free to post comments on any of my blogs to have more practice 🙂
Hi! At this moment, 7am, I could do with a couple more hours of sleep haha.
Instead, I have to drive kids to school and start the day
Haha, that’s a perfect example of this phrase in context! I love it….and it’s how I feel most mornings! Thanks for sharing Gaby 🙂
Hi Teacher,
I have never heard about phrase ” I could do with…..”.
I have been studying English for a year but now I could do with Nickie.
Haha! I love this example 🙂 you’ve used the phrase perfectly too!
Excuse me can we use this structure in the future or in the past.
Great question Mustafa! So you can say ‘I could do with’ to talk about now OR the future. For example, I could do with a new swimming costume for my holiday next month.
To talk about the past, you change it slightly to ‘I could have done with’. For example, it was freezing at the football game yesterday, I could have done with a hat and scarf.
Hope that helps 😊
I spent two weeks depending on hot water while suffering from cold now i could do with some cough cyrup.Is it correct?
‘I could do with some cough syrup’ is correct and it’s a great example Roopa!
(Just note my spelling correction in syrup)
What is the past of could do with?!
How can we use it in past?!
Great question Jess! We say ‘I could have done with ….’ For example, ‘I got really wet walking to work this morning, I could have done with an umbrella!’
Hi Nicki,
Thanks for intresting examples. I’ve never came across the questions with the phrase ‘could do with’. Is it possible and natural to use this phrase in a question?
I’m glad you found it useful Anna 😊 Technically you could use it in a question. For example a Mum might say to her teenager, ‘I’m going shopping on Friday. Could you do with any new clothes?’. It sounds fairly natural like that but it’s probably not commonly used in a question. Hope that helps!