Can and could grammar? Can, like could and would, is used to ask a polite question, but can is only used to ask permission to do or say something (« Can I borrow your car? » « Can I get you something to drink? »). Could is the past tense of can, but it also has uses apart from that–and that is where the confusion lies.
Can you vs Will you?
May implies that you are asking for permission. Can implies that you are questioning somebody’s ability. Will implies that you are seeking an answer about the future.
Would and will use?
And English learners often get these two confused because they’re used in very similar situations. But they’re not the same. The main difference between will and would is that will is used for real possibilities while would is used for imagined situations in the future.
Which is more polite can you or could you?
To answer the question: « could » definitely sounds slightly more polite than « can » to a native speaker since it is less direct and more deferential as a result. « Could » is a form of « can », so both are technically asking « are you able to… ». This is not the difference between the two.
Can I have or can I get?
If you insist on using « get », at least say ‘Can you get me a beer’. It may sound too informal but is correct. In many cases, the verbs ‘have’ and ‘get’ are interchangeable in meaning, but not in this one.
Could sentences examples in English?
Could sentence example
- I wish you could hear yourself talking. …
- What could he do about it but lose more sleep? …
- How could she blame him? …
- I never thought I could do it. …
- How could he find out? …
- I had let so much gas out of my balloon that I could not rise again, and in a few minutes the earth closed over my head.
Would VS could polite?
How to remember the difference. When it comes to requests, we can use both could and would, but could is more formal and polite than would. While making polite requests, could is used with suggestions, as it indicates a possibility. On the contrary, would is used with offers or invites, because it is more usual.
Can I help you answer?
It’s what is called a closed question, because the only possible answers are « yes » or « no » (with a « please » or « thank you » thrown in for politeness’ sake). If a sales person is approaching you, they’re far more likely to avoid a direct « no » answer by asking the question « How can I help you? ».
Can we use would for future?
We have this in the past tense, simple past tense and then, in that past tense thought, we have some idea about the future and we use Would to express that idea about the future. Let’s look at some examples of this though. Here, I knew you would help me. … So we can use Would to talk about future but in the past.
Which is correct would be or will be?
« Would » is correct, because this is a hypothetical statement, not something that will occur in the future. If I had a wish, I would wish you would love me. This seems fine to me – both are hypothetical.
Would vs Will future?
Would: How They’re Different (and How to Use Each) The main difference between will and would is that would can be used in the past tense but will cannot. Also, would is commonly used to refer to a future event that may occur under specific conditions, while will is used more generally to refer to future events.
Is could you please rude?
-> They both are impolite. They both sound like a command/order. The first one is less rude than the second one. Could you please give us some context?
Can and could sentences examples?
‘can’ and ‘could’
- They could come by car. (= Maybe they will come by car.) …
- It can be very cold here in winter. (= It is sometimes very cold here in winter.) …
- That can’t be true. …
- It’s ten o’clock. …
- It could be very cold there in winter. …
- They know the way here. …
- She can speak several languages. …
- I can see you.
Is Would you mind polite?
If you want to sound particularly polite, or if you think the answer may be negative, you can also use Would you mind + verb-ing as the preferred alternative to Could you…?
Is OK is OK?
Okay and OK mean the same thing.
You have the answers to the questions. There’s no difference between OK and okay. The older term, OK, (possibly) derived from an abbreviation for an intentional misspelling of “all correct.” The terms are both standard English.
Can I please or could I please?
Both are correct. The first is more direct, and the second is more polite. Could you please . . . gives slightly more room for refusal than Can you please . . .
Could meaning and uses?
The definition of could is often used in the place of « can » to show a little doubt. An example of could is someone asking if they can help someone. An example of could is saying that something is able to happen if someone does something. Used to indicate ability or permission in the past.
Can uses and examples?
Can
- I can ride a horse. ability.
- We can stay with my brother when we are in Paris. opportunity.
- She cannot stay out after 10 PM. permission.
- Can you hand me the stapler? request.
- Any child can grow up to be president. possibility.
Can have meaning in English?
Can have implies that someone has the opportunity to possess or do something. Edward can have an ice cream cone when he gets home. … Edward could have an ice cream cone when he gets home, but he’ll have to finish his homework first. Gillian could have her friends over after school if she wasn’t so busy.
Can sentences be ability?
could / couldn’t (for general ability)
I could read when I was four. She could speak French when she was a child, but now she has forgotten it. He couldn’t dance at all until he took lessons. My grandfather couldn’t swim.
Could you VS would you?
Could You’ is considered to be an informal way of asking something, contrary, ‘Would You’ is a formal way of requesting someone to do something.
How can I be help to you?
- 7 Simple Habits for Becoming a More Helpful Person. …
- Be there for people in their moments of vulnerability. …
- Personalize whenever possible. …
- Look out for others’ blind sides. …
- End conversations by asking how you can be helpful. …
- Create a habit of recognizing people. …
- Give selfless feedback. …
- Write down meaningful things.
Can I ask you a favor reply?
The polite way to ask is « can you do me a favour? » or « can I ask a favour?« , but that aside, in that context then appropriate responses could be « sure » or « of course » or « yes, what is it? » or « if I can » or « it depends on the favour » – these are all valid and normal (and there are many other options).
How can I help you or how may I help you?
Both are correct, but the meaning is not the same. « Can I help you? » is probably more common. Suppose you see someone standing at a street corner with a map, looking around at the intersecting streets. if you say « Can I help you? », you are assuming that is possible, but not certain, that the person needs help.
References
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