"Can" is one of the most used modal verbs in The English Language .
-*- Use : It can be used to express:
-1- ability ,
*- I can speak three languages !
-2- opportunity
*- I can help you as I am free .
-3- possibility ,
*- You can invite your friends to the party .
-4- To request politely
*- Can I use the phone ?
-5- offer permission,
*- Yes, you can ! (open the window )
6 impossibility.
*- I cannot see inside ! It is pitch dark !
*- She can`t call him ! He might not like !
Let`s see "could "
Could is an auxiliary verb, a modal auxiliary verb.
-*- Use : We use could to express :\
1-Ability in the past :
"I could run very fast when I was younger "!-
--2- possibility :
"He could be the one who broke the window " !-
--3- To ask for permission ( formal style )
" Could I use the phone , please ?-
--4- for a polite request :
" Could you show me the way to the post office, please ?-
- -*- For polite requests and asking for permission , "CAN" is informal it is a polite way to , but " COULD" is formal and is a more polite way to request and ask for permission !
I wish the lesson is clear . I tried to simplify it as possible as I could !
