How to distinguish between can and could?

The differences between CAN and Could are as follows:

Can and Coconut are both modal verbs commonly used in English and are often used to denote power, possibility, request, etc. Although both of them have the meaning of possibility, they are slightly different in their use.

1. CAN indicates general ability and permissibility, while CAN indicates past or possible circumstances. For example:

i can swim.(I can swim.) ）

he could play the piano very well when he was young.(He played the piano very well when he was younger.) ）

2. Another difference is the colloquial use of can. Can can can be used in everyday spoken and written language, while the word "could" is more often used in formal situations and in literary writing.

3. Supported can also be used to request politely. The usage of can is more commanding than could, and it is more polite to ask for could. For example:

can you help me with this work？(Can you help me with this task?) ）

could you please give me your phone number?(Can you tell me your ** number?) ）

In addition to this, CAN and Could each have their own unique meanings. For example:

1. can means "can", which means to have a certain ability or skill. For example:

i can speak chinese fluently.(I am fluent in Chinese.) ）

he can run very fast.(He can run fast.) ）

2. Coconut means "maybe", which means that something may happen or a situation may exist. For example:

the weather could change later in the day.(The weather is subject to change this afternoon.) ）

i could be wrong, but i think he's lying.(I may be wrong, but I think he's lying.) ）

3. Could can also be used in the past tense. For example:

when i was young, i could eat a whole pizza by myself.(When I was younger, I could eat a whole pizza by myself.) ）

In general, ca n and could are both very commonly used modal verbs, and using their different meanings according to different contexts can make our expressions more accurate and appropriate.

The differences and usages of CAN and COULD are as follows:

The difference between can and could is that the meaning is different, the usage is different, and the emphasis is different, and the usage is as follows:

1. Different meanings <>

1. can: (means to be able to do or can happen) can, will, (means to know how to do) to understand, and verbs.

2. could: used in the past tense of can, (ask if you can do something early) can, can, (politely ask others to do things) can.

Second, the usage is different.

1. can: can can can be collocated with real verbs to form a verbal compound predicate, indicating "ability", and can also be used in negative sentences or interrogative sentences, with be, progressive verbs or perfect verbs, which is a speculation of the present or past, indicating "impossible" and "can't..."Is it? ”。

Can is not usually used in progressives when used with a verb that indicates perception.

2. Could: Could means "allowed", which can be used for people, and can also mean "allowed" by environment, conditions, and laws. When could, when it means "permitted", it can only refer to general licenses in the past, not to specific licenses in the past.

When expressing a specific permit in the past, the substantive verbs allow, permit, etc., can be used.

Third, the focus is different.

1. can: can is used in the present tense, and the tone is not mixed with emotion.

2. Could: Could is used in the past tense, and the tone is more euphemistic.