[Grammar] I could not find it

[vijayalakshmi.g]

Hi,

I am eager to learn English and want to be fluent in talk.
I am always getting confused while talking because of improper basic grammar knowledge.
Please help me and clear my basic doubts.
Tell me any way to improve my grammar.

Which one of the below is correct and why?

I could not find it.
I could not found it.

 

[Matthew Wai]

Re: Basic grammar

'Could' is a modal verb, after which the bare infinitive should be used.

Not a teacher.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Re: Basic grammar

Vijay, do you know what a bare infinitive is?

 

[emsr2d2]

Hi,

I am eager to learn English and want to [STRIKE]be[/STRIKE] speak it fluently. [STRIKE]in talk.[/STRIKE]
I [STRIKE]am[/STRIKE] always gett[STRIKE]ing[/STRIKE] confused while talking because of [STRIKE]improper[/STRIKE] my very basic grammar knowledge.
Please help me and clear up my basic doubts.
Also, can you tell me any way to improve my grammar?

Which one of the sentences below is correct and why?

I could not find it.
I could not found it.

Welcome to the forum. :hi:

Please see my corrections in red above. Please also note that I have changed the title of your thread. Don't give your threads generic titles such as "Grammar" or "Help" or "Sentences". Thread titles should include some or all of the words/phrases you are querying.

 

[Matthew Wai]

http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/infinitive?q=infinitive
The OP may see above if he doesn't know what 'infinitive' means.
Not a teacher.

Tell me any way to improve my grammar.

Visit grammar sites.

 

[vijayalakshmi.g]

Thanks for the responses.

If you give me the reasons along with corrections, then it will be helpful to understand and correct my mistakes.

 

[Matthew Wai]

'I could not find it' is correct because the bare infinitive 'find' is used after the modal verb 'could'.
For details, see http://speakspeak.com/resources/english-grammar-rules/verb-structures/verb-bare-infinitive
Not a teacher.