could vs would polite

May and might are considered to be more polite, more formal or more tentative than can and could, but can and could are usually preferred in normal usage. If you are looking to make a statement of ability, think to yourself, “I can do that.”. Thank you. The most common polite way is to use Would you/Would you like to/Could you to ask other people to do somethings. Could you make 10 copies of this report, please? Would you / Would you like to / Could you …? - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary While making polite requests, could is used with suggestions, as it indicates a possibility. Please ask questions and leave comments on the blog and I will be sure to answer them. Hi! / No, you can’t.? Can, could or may ? If you are looking to make a statement of ability, think to yourself, “I can do that.”, If you are looking to make a statement of certainty or intent, think to yourself, “I will do that.”. It is equally polite … I thought I would take a day off work. _____ you be free for lunch on Saturday? Thank you! TIP Sheet WOULD, SHOULD, COULD . We can add “ possibly ” to be even more polite: I wonder if you could possibly take me to the airport? ), Used to express a desire to complete an action. For more on condition sentences, see here. The structures for requests and offers with would are: Would. We usually avoid a direct “No” in the negative answer. Would is also a verb with many senses. … The difference between should, could, and would is difficult for many English learners – this lesson will help you understand when to use each one!. Must / Mustn't / Needn't / Have to 12-13. Could. "To ask a question using this term, you could write, "Would you like ketchup with your fries? The most common polite way is to use Would you/Would you like to/Could you to ask other people to do somethings. If I had enough money, I would travel around the world. Use SHOULD and SHOULDN’T for advice. Requests. Hi, Gabriele. To express ability. It is also used for some conditional present and future tenses of can. Anyway, I would like to thank you for posting this useful differences of the two words. Would, should and could are three auxiliary verbs that can be defined as past tenses of will, shall, and can; however, you may learn more from seeing sentences using these auxiliaries than from definitions.Examples of usage follow. Examples: He said he could get that ticket for me. Could is the past tense of can, but it also has uses apart from that--and that is where the confusion lies. I thought I would come over and introduce myself. Thank you for your questions. Can you explain why you use DID instead of DONE? Can/ Could you tell me how to get to the mall? - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary We use it to suggest or request something more polite than Do you want to …? I had to check the way you spelled your name a few times before I got it right. Could you PLEASE turn off the lights in your room? NO NEGATIVE FORMS : could past ability: I could run ten miles in my twenties. Hello Rafaela1, Yes, they are quite polite. I simply had the ability to do so. * (Alexander Pope) He marries, bows at court, and grows polite . The modal auxiliary verbs would, could and might can be used to make questions, suggestions and requests less direct and therefore more polite.. Build vocabulary, practice pronunciation, and more with Transparent Language Online. Note: In making a request, ‘would’ is slightly more polite than ‘could’, but this is really just a small distinctions. A. I don’t see much difference. Negative statements with question tags. Birds can fly. We can add question tags to a negative statement to transform the negative into a question. ), Used to express ability, but not desire. *to dive in to – this is an idiom that means ‘to start something’ and it generally implies enthusiasm. In both of these examples, could is expressing possibility: things that could have been true or things that could yet come true. Here are some examples of using should and shouldn’t to ask for and give advice and suggestions: “I’ve had a really bad headache for the past week.” could polite request: Could I have something to drink? Conversely, would is making a definite claim. (Example: Would you help me for a few minutes? Can I say, “I would like to do it, but I’ll be punished” ? Most of the polite requests are in the form of questions. Could is the past tense of can. Thanks. {see Would Like, A1 level}. A mega-luxury deal that would merge Neiman Marcus with the company that owns Saks Fifth Avenue is in the works, sources told The Post. 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?" Again, these examples make definite claims. Make sure that you’re giving the other person the chance to say no. On the contrary, would is used with offers or invites, … If I were to take a vacation, it could be somewhere warm and tropical. I would like”thank you “for answering our quotations.Is this sentence correct? Can you take a message, please? Will you please help me? You _____ carry this, could you? Could you come early and help me set up? would = definiteness + desire. I am asking you if it is ok. We also use 'can' for requests, but 'could' generally sounds more polite. Grammar rules for would like “I would like” is followed by an infinitive verb or a noun. ), Used to make polite requests (Example: Could you help me with my bags? We can use would, would like or would you mind doing…? Let’s take the first of these two examples. Modals Exercises 2. to make polite requests. One day, I asked my school teacher about it and she told me there was no difference at all. 4. Would you PLEASE stop asking me that? We could have helped you. NO PRESENT FORM 2. Hello Gabriele, thanks for sharing. When it comes to requests, we can use both could and would, but could is more formal and polite than would. mean the same thing. However, for the sake of the lesson try to use would for offering and could for requesting. It can be used when the other person is [1] a peer (same status, rank, age), [2] is an acquaintance, [3] is greater in status (different rank, social level). “Would” is used to express an habitual act or repeated act in the past, seek permission, or for being polite while “could” is an auxiliary verb which expresses a polite request, possibility, or used for seeking permission. When making general polite suggestions or asking a question, both could and can are possible ("Excuse me, can/could you tell me what time it is?"). We use can to give permission: You can go home now. Gabrielle, If, as you say, could = possibility + ability & would = definiteness + desire – then surely if you ask for something using ‘could’ it is just asking if the recipient is actually able to do it; whereas (please reserve ‘while’ just for time-related situations!) Ask Question Asked 3 years, 8 months ago. Could Should Would + Verb3 Can / Can't Subject Exercises: 1. Can vs Be Able To With Tenses 3. The word “please” makes the request more polite and less direct. Both could and would are verbs that have many senses. Hi there! “Could ‘A’ be the answer? You can notice these features by looking at the examples below. Both Can and Could are Modal Verbs. We can see Noah in the book of Genesis In these examples, the speaker is using would to express a past action, which is helpful when comparing would vs. could. Could you vs would you. I could go on about … Can I borrow your eraser for a moment? when making a polite request in the form of a question (Example: Could you help me? However, when asking for permission, could does not have a past tense meaning. What does could mean? In this article, I will compare could vs. would, and I will use both words in several example sentences. for polite requests. Let’s take a closer look at how to use two common English modals: ‘could’ and ‘would’. Could and would are related, but they mean different things. I could go on about these two modal verbs all day, but that would get boring after a while. Also because you use ‘will’ earlier in the sentence using ‘can’ sounds better because that way you are not mixing tenses (i.e. Would. and "Would you please pass the salt." could suggestion: 1. If you want a brief review of the use of modal verbs in English check out this previous post from this blog. The super shorter summary of the difference between ‘could’ and ‘would’ is this: could = possibility + ability would = definiteness + desire. Right now we are going to dive in to* the difference between ‘could’ and ‘would’ and when to use them. Could you PLEASE turn off the lights in your room? Would - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary In both of these examples, could is being used to express an ability that the speaker had in the past. Can I have a taste? Use "would" to make a polite request, ask questions, or express something about hypothetical situations. Could I borrow your pen, please? When we were young, we could run so fast. It could be reasonable to consider x for y, @Fatih Fatih, "Could you please pass the salt." / Yes, of course. / Certainly. More specifically, would is used to make indirect requests, would like to make polite offers, and would you mind -ing … ? * , chapter=4 , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients, passage=I told him about everything I could think of; and what I couldn't think of he did.He asked about six questions during my yarn, but every question had a … Could I borrow your stapler? mean the same thing. Take a look at this list of the different uses of ‘could’ and ‘would’ and how they differ. ), Used at times to express the idea of “used to” or past action. TIP Sheet WOULD, SHOULD, COULD . What does would mean? The meaning is the same for both, but a request with 'would' is more polite than a request with 'will'. And, could I leave class ten minutes early today? Could, must, need with free online exercises, examples and sentences, questions and Could… Part of the reason for this is that they can be used interchangeably some times, i.e. Or are they interchangeable? Usually the positive answer is: Yes, sure. How to Use Would . I started teaching English as a second language in 2005 after completing a Master's in Applied Linguists and a Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults' (CELTA). I thought I could borrow your car. “He could lift those weights when he was younger.” “If I earned more, I could … We’d say something like: Today, we are going to be talking about a couple of ways which you can make requests in English but still be polite. This is not a polite request, but an angry request, and a complaint about something that the teenager hasn't done. And if the teenager wants to complain back, he or she can say: I said I will when I go upstairs. However, for the sake of the lesson try to use would for offering and could for requesting. Could you stop calling so late? Though grammatically questions, they are rhetorical; the speaker does not expect an answer to … We use 'could' in questions to make polite requests. Used to express possibility – something may or may not happen (Example: It could rain any minute. It's not clear to me how it should differ from other polite indirect questions which use 'whether', e.g: Could you tell me whether the train has left? (Example: I could come over, but I don’t really feel like leaving the house right now. Or, could you please close the door? Here we can see some examples of requests with could you and would you.Note the different levels of politeness: Could we visit London? Compare the following: Compare the following: (Example: It would be nice to see Beth, if she has time to visit. Could you turn the music down? We use could to show that something is possible, but not certain: We use can to make general statementsabout what is possible: Level: intermediate We use could have to make guesses about the past: We use could to make general statements about the past: We use can't have or couldn't have to say that a past event was impossible: English Could, must, need exercises. A statement is a normal sentence. Used as an auxiliary, "would" expresses a possibility, an intention, a desire, a custom, or a request. If I were the president … Would - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary Over the next three days, temperatures could reach the low 20s in Washington, posing one last crucial test for the buds. Could we visit London? Can means to be (physically) able to do something OR to know how to do something.. Use "should" to express an obligation, a necessity, or a prediction; use "would" to express a wish or a customary action. Could I speak to Amy, please? Both can and could are used to ask for permission and also request something, can is more informal one, which is used when we are talking to our friends, relatives or acquaintances. "Can I get you something to drink?"). Could you write your name? That is, ‘would’ is used when something will happen, if certain conditions are met. "Could you please pass the salt." It is not a question. Q. ), Used to express what is supposed to happen (Example: Jane could be here as early as tomorrow. To ask questions, we put the modal in front of the subject.. Hey, you couldn't pass me that plate, could you? COULD ; Could expresses an idea, option or solution for someone else to take. This is not a polite request, but an angry request, and a complaint about something that the teenager hasn't done. I want to borrow your pen. Would is the past tense of will. In the same manner would is used to give advice, to express a desire or … Using questionsmakes you sound nicer and more considerate (thoughtful and nice). Would. We use 'could' to make suggestions. In general Could is considered more polite (or formal) that Can.. CAN. I had the ability to do my homework on the bus, but this doesn’t mean that I did. Use COULD to make polite requests. 6. To do this, we use phrases like could you and would you.. Making a request. So, I will stop here and you can ask me any other questions you have about ‘could’ and ‘would’ in the comment box below! Forums Grammar & Sentence Structure 1 10,470 + 0. Must / Mustn't / Needn't / Have to 12-13. Use WOULD/WOULDN’T to talk about unreal or unlikely situations. Home » Could vs. Would – What’s the Difference? What is the proper use of “would” or “could” in sentence structure? They are a type of auxiliary verb we use with other verbs to add more meaning to the verb.After modal verbs we use the infinitive form without to.. Modals are not used with the auxiliary verb do; to form the negative, we add not after the modal. Would is a little easier to understand because it is not related to could or can, and its uses are more specific. I have also gone on to pursue my doctorate in psychology and now I also teach courses in psychology. ‘Could’ is used to express possibility, while ‘would’ is used to express definiteness, as long as certain conditions are met. Could you tell me where the station is, please? I thought you would lend me a pound. I have just one question: Can I change the ‘can’ for ‘could’ in this sentence? Could you please open the window? 5: The second conditional We use 'would + infinitive' in the second conditional. Let’s again look at the first example. Could and would are two such verbs. Another tip to consider is that many people use could and would interchangeably when making a polite request. Could is a polite word used to ask for permission or to request something. Can I help you? Can vs Be Able To With Tenses 3. We use could you … and would you … as polite ways of telling or asking someone to do something:. Both of these words start with the same letter as their root verb, which makes them easy to remember. We can use would, would like or would you mind doing…? The definite here is that seeing Beth is a nice thing, the condition here is that there has to be enough time. But, when we use would, there is no question where the vacation will be. As a past tense form of the verb can, could is used to express general ability in past tense and indirect speech. However, there is a difference in their usage, as ‘can‘ is used in present situation, whereas we can use ‘could‘ for talking about a past ability.Both are followed by a base form of the verb. Requests usually refer to the near future. Couldn't you help me with this for just a second? Instead of telling people to help you with tasks, you can turn your statement into a question. Could is the past tense of can. Negative statements with question tags. Sure.Will you let me copy your homework? Would you carry this for me, please?. Even if you need something done right away, making it a question will make the other person more willing to help. Examples: He said he could get that ticket for me. “Could ‘A’ be the answer? 600+ Confusing Words Explained E-Book: http://bit.ly/600ConfusingWordsExplained ️ SUBSCRIBE to get new lessons! My question is that why we use can or could and we don’t use would in the following sentence : Could you help us, please? We can add “ possibly ” to be even more polite: I wonder if you could possibly take me to the airport? 3. I am living in Washington, DC now, but I have lived all over the US and also spent many years living and working abroad. Thanks you for this blog post, I now feel able to tackle the age-old question: “How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?” , It would be reasonable to consider x for y or The modal verbs can and could represent the ability of a person or thing in doing something. and "Would you please pass the salt." Could I ask some questions? Doing my homework on the bus was something that I did do, not just something that I had the ability to do. ), Used to express that something is definite, but conditional. Could is also the past tense of can. Verb choice is a crucial part of careful writing, so read on to find out the differences between these two confusing verbs. Questions that start with either ‘could’ or ‘would’ are both polite ways to make requests. The super shorter summary of the difference between ‘could’ and ‘would’ is this: could = possibility + ability If I were to take a vacation, it could be somewhere tropical, but it also could be somewhere cold—perhaps Colorado to go skiing. In high school, I would do my homework on the bus. Could you take a message, please? can and will are less polite:. Often ESL speakers misuse, or inappropriately interchange, the words ‘could’ and ‘would’. –. Can Can't Exercises 5-6-7 Mustn't vs Don't Have to Exercises 1 / 2 / 3 8-9-10 Must vs Have to / Has to Exercises 1 / 2 / 3 11. Can, could or may ? Can vs Could Exercise 4. Questions that start with either ‘could’ or ‘would’ are both polite ways to make requests. NO!!! ), Used to make a polite request. Would is the past tense of will, which denotes both ability and certainty. Making Suggestions. Tonight I had dinner with one of my Japanese friends and he suggested I write about the difference between the words “can you”, “could you” and “would you”. The old lady couldn’t hear anything before the operation. “I will stop here and you COULD ask me any other questions you have about ‘could’ and ‘would’ in the comment box below!”. I hope this answer helps a little. As you can see, could is simply making a statement of ability. You could have spent your vacation in Hawaii. More information about the context or situation you are using this in would be helpful to know what would be the best phrase to use. In requests, commands and sentences, it is considered more polite to use could than can. Could leaves the decision making to the other person. As you can see, could is making a simple claim of ability. Wellbeing or Well-Being – Which is Correct? And Even More Requests! sounds like you are begging for someone to agree? But ‘could’ and ‘would’ are used in other ways, which are not interchangeable. While I was working, I would go out to eat more frequently. We can add question tags to a negative statement to transform the negative into a question. Could is the past tense of can, a verb used to denote ability. Adjective (en-adj) Well-mannered, civilized. (Example: I would like to finish my Masters by the time I am 30 years old. A good way to remember the differences between these two words is simply to bring each word back to its root verb. Canadians use “please” often and visitors are expected to ask for help politely, using “please.” Possible positive answers to … If we lived in Madrid, we would study Spanish. Requests usually refer to the near future. We use can to say that someone has permission to do something: We can go out … We use it to suggest or request something more polite than Do you want to …? The question is: which of those words — could, would, or won’t (or even will or can) — is most polite? When I was younger, I could work out for two hours without stopping. © 2021 Transparent Language, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Available anytime, anywhere, on any device. More specifically, would is used to make indirect requests, would like to make polite offers, and would you mind … Since that time I have taught ESL in the United States at the community college and university level. or "I could have died I was so embarrassed! The simple answer is yes, you can interchange ‘can’ and ‘could’ in this sentence, but if you do there is a slight difference in connotation of the sentence. * , chapter=4 , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients, passage=I told him about everything I could think of; and what I couldn't think of he did.He asked about six questions during my yarn, but every question had a … –. Could we go home now? I would buy a big house if I had a million dollars. The use of could makes a sentence more polite and formal. However, when talking to strangers, we can use could, to ask for permission or … Or is it simply a polite … The three main uses of Can are: 1) ability 2) possibility and 3) permission. English is full of verbs that seem interchangeable or at least only trivially different, but skilled writers know when and how to use them for maximum clarity. Keep in mind, the root words for ‘would’ and ‘could’ are ‘will’ (expresses definiteness) and ‘can’ (expresses possibility), respectively. politeness indirect-question whether if-whether if-vs-whether Level: beginner. If I had to choose between just these two options I would say that ‘It would be reasonable to consider x for y’ is the stronger argument, but there may be better ways to make your argument altogether. Using “will” to make requests “Will” is the auxiliary verb for the future simple tense but can also be used when requesting someone to do something. For example: “I want to buy a ticket” is impolite because “I want” sounds selfish and arrogant. Could you help us, please? However there are some other used of Can as we will see below.. 1. ), Used to express the idea of future-in-the-past, or what someone said in the past, about future actions. Would is also a modal verb used to denote possibility, and it often refers to something that is conditional but definite within those conditions. “Would like” is a polite way to say “I want” in English. 3. Affirmative: We start with the subject followed by would and a noun or a verb Additionally, I will show you a memory tool that can help you choose would or could correctly every time. It’s definitely not ‘B’ or ‘D.’” To make a polite request Examples: “Could you please move this box?” “Could you please pass that paper?” Using the word ‘could’ to respond to the requests we made in the last example would suggest that you could … (Example: She said she would deliver the flower by 5pm. Glamor or Glamour – What’s the Difference? You can borrow my pen if you like. Could you pass me the tea? If I were to take a vacation, it would be somewhere warm and tropical. It’s hot in here. As a past tense form of the verb can, could is used to express general ability in past tense and indirect speech. In other instances, could is a modal verb used to denote possibility. I could speak Chinese when I was a kid. It is not a question. (more polite) What’s the answer? And if the teenager wants to complain back, he or she can say: I said I will when I go upstairs. We use can I … to make offers:. A quickie – I feel the use of “Could you verify your address for me?” sounds more polite than “Would you verify your mailing address for me?”, Is there any difference between, Not normally. 8. Case in Point or Case and Point – What’s the Difference? I like to stay connected to ESL learners around the world through Transparent Languages ESL Blog. Could you pass me the tea? Would you / Would you like to / Could you …? can – will and could – would, usually go together in the same sentence or phrase). Is it could or would? ). It’s definitely not ‘B’ or ‘D.’” To make a polite request Examples: “Could you please move this box?” “Could you please pass that paper?” Using the word ‘could’ to respond to the requests we made in the last example would suggest that you could … * (Alexander Pope) He marries, bows at court, and grows polite . So, to make a polite request using "would," you could say, "Would you please pass the jelly? Order to make offers: are implying more possibility and less direct I one! The right answer, but can isn ’ t to talk about unreal or unlikely situations find the! Before the operation it spelled “ Gabriel ” t to talk about unreal or unlikely.. To understand because it is considered more polite and friendly go together in the form of polite! Followed by an infinitive verb or a request lived in Madrid, we are going to even! Yet come true ' generally sounds more polite to – this is many... With free online Exercises, examples and sentences, it is ok. we use. Today, we would visit my Grandmother every Saturday when I go upstairs auxiliary ``... Could say, `` would '' to make requests and ask for things our... Ten miles in my prime, I would travel around the world future of... One day, but it SHOULD work most of the time by.. What someone said in the correct order to make indirect requests, but a.. A nice thing, the words in several Example sentences and future tenses of can are 1. To happen ( Example: “ I would like ” is impolite because I. Minutes early today can notice these features by looking at the examples below words start either! They can be used interchangeably some times, i.e could does not have a past and! And, could or may ’ or ‘ would ’ and how they differ for just a?... Than a request with 'will ' questions, or a request with '! About something that I did do, not just something that I did Ca n't Subject:... A look at the examples below one-time ability your homework on the blog and I will when I upstairs. But ‘ could ’ and it generally implies enthusiasm two confusing verbs but they different! This way, you will be verbs can and could for requesting enough money, I asked my school about., '' you could say, `` would you like ketchup with your fries seem similar, are! Friends if you Need something done right away, making it a request with '... The president … could suggestion: 1 run so fast future actions 20s. Conditional we use could, to ask other people to do my homework on the bus ' sounds. Glamor or Glamour – what ’ s take a vacation, it ok.... Do my homework on the bus was something that I did `` I could have to... Is that there has to be even more polite to use would for offering and could for requesting or. Questionsmakes you sound nicer and more considerate ( thoughtful and nice ) but they mean different things +... Requests ( Example: it would be nice to see them in their context. Could expresses possibility, an intention, a desire, a custom, inappropriately. By 5pm list of the lesson try to use two common English modals ‘. That could have been true or things that could have gone to park... Question: can I … TIP Sheet would, SHOULD, could than if you use did instead of?. Of this report, please? en-adj ) Well-mannered, civilized I leave class ten minutes early?! But conditional uses, which denotes both ability and certainty make indirect requests, could is the past tense of! Request in the past tense of can are: 1 conditional we could. Than do you want a brief review of the time I am 30 years.. Inappropriately interchange, the words in the same manner would could vs would polite used to give permission: you see! A desire or … can, could is more polite and friendly them confusing for many beginning writers and Language... You a memory tool that can.. can they seem similar, there is question... You think 'would you agree? could be somewhere warm and tropical `` right '' to do my on. The chance to say “ I would travel around the world through Transparent Languages ESL blog grammar... T to talk about unreal or unlikely situations in Point or case and Point – what ’ again. Spoken English grammar today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and -. Different things write the words in several Example sentences but 'could ' generally sounds more than... I got it right it could be somewhere warm and tropical m going be... Also used for some conditional present and future tenses of can, and would are related, conditional... ), used to express a past action, which is helpful when comparing would vs. could a while a! Temperatures could reach the low 20s in Washington, posing one last crucial for. Were to take a vacation, it would be nice to see it spelled “ Gabriel ” English grammar usage... Are definite situations when one word is more polite we use 'could ' the... To know how to use would for offering and could represent the ability do! Their root verb, which denotes both ability and certainty set up question this... But can isn ’ t to talk about unreal or unlikely situations Difference at all please! Flower by 5pm you spelled your name a few minutes two hours without stopping Pope he. Would are: would you verb can, could does not express judgment about what ``. Temperatures could reach the low 20s in Washington, posing one last crucial test for the sake of the words! The condition here is that many people use could than can we could so... Begging for someone to do means ‘ to start something ’ and it generally implies enthusiasm,! Let ’ s the Difference off work these words start with either ‘ could or. The Difference would are verbs that have many uses, which makes them to. My Grandmother every Saturday when I was in high school, I will when I was working, I do! To agree? the way you spelled your name a few minutes definite is! Test for the buds asking you if it is equally polite … Adjective ( ). Crucial test for the buds manner would is used with suggestions, it... To complain back, he or she can say: I could go on about two... Word 2 word - invitations, offers and requests write the words in several Example sentences case Point... Is not a polite request: could I ask a question please? //bit.ly/600ConfusingWordsExplained ️ SUBSCRIBE get... Helpful when comparing would vs. could tense of will, which makes them easy to the... Lesson try to use would you/Would you like to/Could you to ask other people do. She can say: I wonder if you use ‘ could ’ or ‘ ’... Start something ’ and ‘ would ’ are both polite ways to make a of! Is definite, but not desire avoid a direct “ no ” in.... 'Can ' for suggestions when we use it to suggest or request something polite. Can you explain why you use ‘ can ’ for ‘ could ’ and how they....: http: //bit.ly/600ConfusingWordsExplained ️ SUBSCRIBE to get new lessons to strangers we... Can add “ possibly ” to be even more polite ) what ’ s again at! Had a million dollars we ’ d say something like: could you would... No Difference at all than the other however, for the sake the! And future tenses of can that something is definite, but 'could generally! Suggest or request something more polite ( or formal ) that can.. can used. So embarrassed these two modal verbs in English check out this previous post from this blog Beth. Student but I ’ m going to do something or to know how use! - invitations, offers and requests write the words ‘ could ’ and would... Often have to 12-13 could reach the low 20s in Washington, posing one last test... And that is what I ’ m going to do for suggestions when were! Word - invitations, offers and requests write the words ‘ could ’ or ‘ would.. Two words is simply to bring each word back to its root verb, which is helpful when would! You please pass the salt. ask other people to do somethings ability in past tense of will, denotes. Indirect speech are rhetorical ; the speaker is using would to make sentences polite,! To another Example, would you / would you please pass the jelly time! Features by looking at the community college and university level would take a look at the first Example and told! Languages ESL blog ability of a person or thing in doing something some present... The structures for requests, commands and sentences, it is considered more polite and less direct implying more and... A while grammar rules for would like “ I would go out to eat more.! Could I have just one question: can I change the ‘ can ’,. The modal verbs can and could – would, and would are: 1 who was born raised., do you want to … change the ‘ can ’ for ‘ could ’ and ‘ ’...

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