We use could to express:

1. General ability in the past:

The shop had nothing that I could afford.

2. Possible future actions:

The plan could go wrong.

3. Request:
Could you give me a hand?

4. Asking for permission:

Could I leave my bag here for a minute?

5. Permission in the past:

When I was young, I could stay up late at weekends.

6. Deduction:

That could be Johns car I can hear__ he said he was coming.

7. Idiomatic:
You could at least tell me what they said. (= I think you should have told me
what they said.)

8. Suggestion:

We could meet later.

9. Prediction about future:

The motorway could be busy tomorrow.