Tag Archives: cusr de comunicare in limba engleza

Can vs. Could: Learn the Difference

Master English Grammar
Can vs. Could: Learn the Difference

People often use can and could interchangeably, even though the words have slightly different meanings. Luckily, the rules about when to use can vs. could are pretty straightforward.

Both are modal verbs used to express ability or possibility; they can also be used to ask for permission.

When you’re talking about the possibility of something happening in the future, use can if something is very likely to happen. Could, on the other hand, should be used for things that have an equal chance of not happening. When you’re referring to someone’s ability to do something, use can in present-tense scenarios and could in past-tense situations.

Avoid making a grammatical blunder by reading our piece on the differences between can vs. could.

What’s the difference between Can and Could?
Unlike some other commonly confused words, such as to vs. for, can and could have only two main differences: tense and likelihood.

Can is the present tense modal verb used to express someone’s ability.

I can book that appointment for you right now if you’d like.

Could is the past tense modal verb used to express someone’s ability.

Harpreet could have pitched a perfect game if his manager had kept him in.

Both verbs can also be used to express the likelihood of something happening in the future tense, which is when most people often confuse the two. Can is used to describe scenarios that are more likely than not to happen, while could is used for scenarios that are less probable.

You can get an upset stomach from eating too many habaneros.
I really think Steve could win this season of the Great British Baking Show.

Lean more from our video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=129UF4I53IE&t=44s
Please LIKE, SHARE and COMMENT on this video.
Thank you so much!
Iulia
#StartEnglish

AI generated photo