Scribd
Upload
30 views2 pages

Can or Could

The document discusses the uses of the modal verbs "can" and "could" in the English language. It explains that "can" is used to express general possibilities and abilities, while "could" is used to talk about past abilities or possibilities that were not certain. It also outlines how "can" and "could" are used to ask and give permission, make requests and offers, and discuss skills and instructions.

Uploaded by

MihaelaSimion
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
30 views2 pages

Can or Could

The document discusses the uses of the modal verbs "can" and "could" in the English language. It explains that "can" is used to express general possibilities and abilities, while "could" is used to talk about past abilities or possibilities that were not certain. It also outlines how "can" and "could" are used to ask and give permission, make requests and offers, and discuss skills and instructions.

Uploaded by

MihaelaSimion
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

CAN or COULD

Possibility

We use the modal can to make general statements about what is possible:

It can be very cold in winter. (= It is sometimes very cold in winter)


You can easily lose your way in the dark. (= People often lose their way in the
dark)

We use could as the past tense of can:

It could be very cold in winter. (=Sometimes it was very cold in winter.)


You could lose your way in the dark. (=People often lost their way in the dark)

We use could to show that something is possible in the future, but not certain:

If we don’t hurry we could be late. (=Perhaps/Maybe we will be late)

We use could have to show that something is/was possible now or at some time in the
past:

It’s ten o’clock. They could have arrived now.


They could have arrived hours ago.

Impossibility:

We use the negative can’t or can not to show that something is impossible:

That can’t be true.


You can not be serious.

We use couldn’t/could not to talk about the past:

We knew it could not be true.


He was obviously joking. He could not be serious.

Ability:

We use can to talk about someone’s skill or general abilities:

She can speak several languages.


He can swim like a fish.
They can’t dance very well.

We use can to talk about the ability to do something at a given time in


the present or future:

You can make a lot of money if you are lucky.


Help. I can’t breathe.
They can run but they can’t hide.
We use could to talk about past time:

She could speak several languages.


They couldn’t dance very well.

Permission:

We use can to ask for permission to do something:

Can I ask a question, please?


Can we go home now?

could is more formal and polite than can:

Could I ask a question please?


Could we go home now?

We use can to give permission:

You can go home now if you like.


You can borrow my pen if you like.

We use can to say that someone has permission to do something:

We can go out whenever we want.


Students can travel free.

Instructions and requests:

We use could you and as a polite way of telling or asking someone to do something:

Could you take a message please?


Could I have my bill please?

can is less polite:

Can you take a message please?

Offers and invitations:

We use can I … to make offers:

Can I help you?


Can I do that for you?

You might also like