14) CAN and COULD

Can and could are modal verbs. They are used with other verbs to convey ideas
such as possibility, permission, etc.

We use can to:

talk about possibility and ability;

Example: I can ride a horse. / He can speak three languages. Can I get
something for you? Can I help you?

make requests or give orders;

Example: Can you buy me a can of beer? / Can you complete what you are
doing? You Can Stop Now! He Can Go.

Ask for or give permission.

Example: Can I come in now? Yes, You Can Come in.
Note: we may also use could, may and might for permission.

Points to note:

We do not use can with the infinitive verb (To).

Example: We can play football today. NOT: We can to play football today.

Sometimes it is necessary to use (be) able to in place of can.

Example: I cant contact him. / I havent been able to contact him for two
days. (It is not possible to use can with present perfect tense).

Could is one of the modal verbs. We use could:

Example: Jane said she could get the tickets for us.

to show what was possible in the past.

Example: He could cycle when he was four years old.

to ask someone to do something.

Example: Could you buy some cigarettes for me?

to ask if someone is able or allowed to do something.

Example: My grandmother could speak Spanish. / Could I ask you a

question?

Points to note:

Where the subject is singular, we do not add s to the verb

Example: He can swim. NOT: He can swims.

We use could for actions now or in the future.

Example: Its a nice day. We could go for a walk.
Example: When I go to London next week, I could stay with my uncle.

Could is less sure than can, so we use could when we do not really mean
what we say.
Example: I am so hungry. I could eat the whole chicken. (NOT: I can eat the
whole chicken).

We use could do for now and could have for the past.
Example: I am so tired. I could sleep the whole day.

(now)

Example: I was so tired. I could have slept the whole

day.

(past)
We use could with present perfect tense for things
which were
possible to happen but didnt or an event which we are not sure about.
Example: You could have taken a different route to
the traffic jam.

avoid

Example: He could have broken the glass. She couldnt

broken the glass.

have