“CAN” or “COULD”? What’s the difference?

Hi. I'm Rebecca from engVid. Can I ask you a question? Or, could I ask you a question?

Is there a difference between these two ways of speaking to you? Well, actually, in English,

there is a difference. And in this lesson, you will learn the difference between these

two very commonly used words, "can" and "could". I'm going to explain to you exactly when to

use them, how to use them, how to pronounce them correctly, which is really important

because you want to make sure that you're conveying the right information. So, stay

with me till the end, and you will learn exactly how and when to use "can" and "could". So,

let's begin. So, first of all, these two words, "can" and "could", are the same in many ways,

but they're also different. Let's look at the ways in which they are the same. First

of all, they have the same meaning. They express many different things, including being able

to do something, alright? We're going to look at many different ways that we can use this

word, but they basically have the same meaning. Next, both of these words are modal verbs,

so grammatically, they are the same. Next, they both use the same forms, so we can use

them in sentences, we can use them in questions, no problem. And they're both used for similar

purposes, such as to express the ability to do something, to make a request, to ask permission,

to make an offer, to make a suggestion, or to discuss or talk about a possibility, okay?

So, these are the ways in which these two words are the same. However, what's important

to know is that they are also different in very important ways. One of those ways has

to do with the time that we're referring to, and the second way has to do with the tone

that is conveyed when you use either "can" or "could". So, let's start by understanding

these differences. First, let's talk about time. What do I mean that it refers to a different

time? A different time means, in this case, the present or the past. For example, I could

say to you, "I can play the piano." It's a little bit true. Okay. So, if I say, "I can

do something," such as, "I can play the piano," what does it mean? I can do it now. I can

do it in the present, correct? So, we're talking about this time, the present. However, "can"

is the present tense, and the past tense of "can" is "could". So, that's one way in which

they're different in terms of time, that "could" is the past tense of "can". So, if I say to

you, "I could play the piano when I was young, but now I haven't played for many years, so

I kind of forgot." I can play now. I could play probably in the past, okay? That is one

way to use it. There are many other ways, but this is where the difference has to do

with the time that you're talking about, the present or the past. Got it? We're going to

look at more examples, don't worry.

Next, it also has to do with tone. When we say "can" or "could", the tone of the conversation,

the way that we're expressing ourselves is different. That means we're either being more

casual or we're being more polite. Which word do you think is more polite? It's the word

"could". "Can" is more casual, more informal. We use it. We use it. We definitely use it,

but if you're speaking to someone else, perhaps if it's somebody you know really well, you

could say "can". If you want to be a more polite person in general, you could use "could"

with everyone that you know, including your family and friends and relatives and managers

and colleagues and clients, okay? Definitely in more polite and formal situations, you

would like... You should be using "could", okay? Not "can".

Let's look at an example. You could say, "Can you help me?" It's not grammatically wrong,

but the tone is more informal. Or you could say, to be more polite, "Could you help me?"

Now, of course, you could always add the word "please", but "Can you help me, please?" "Could

you help me, please?" This one is still more polite. Whenever we say "could", it's always

going to be more polite. Or, "Can I help you?" That's more on the informal side. Or, "Could

I help you?" More on the formal side, more on the polite side. Okay? Got it? So this

shows you that we can use "can" and "could" to do with time and tone, and there is a difference.

Now let's look at how this works when we're making these kind of... We're creating these

kind of situations or we are in these situations, and we're asking permission or making a suggestion

and so on, and how all of this comes together with the words "can" and "could".

Now let's look at six different contexts in which we use "can" and "could". I mentioned

to you that we can use these words for different reasons, for different purposes. So let's

look at six of the main ones, and also examples of each, and see... You can see and you can

hear how they sound different. Okay? Let's begin.

The first one, for ability. We could say "I can speak French" or "I could speak French

when I was young." So that had to do with what? That has to do with time, right? "I

can speak French" means I can speak French now, today, in the present. "I could speak

French when I was young" - talking about the past. So when we're talking about ability

and we're using "can" and "could", we're using the "can" in the present tense and the "could"

in the past tense. Good.

Now let's look at the others. "Can you tell me where the subway is?" or "Could you tell

me where the subway is?" So here, and for everything from here down, this side is going

to be the more polite version, and this is the more basic version. Okay? So, "Can you

tell me?" or "Could you tell me?" "Could you" is always more polite, also more formal. "Can

you call me at 3 o'clock?" or "Could you call me at 3?" Alright? Again, yes, it's the same

request. However, it just sounds much nicer if you use "could". Okay? Alright.

Are you wrong if you use "can"? No, you're not wrong, but definitely in more formal situations,

you want to use "could".

Next, for permission. We could say to someone, "Can I borrow your book?" or, to be more polite,

"Could I borrow your book?" We could say to someone, "Can you lend me your book?" or "Could

you lend me your book?" Alright? Again, we're talking about basic and more polite.

Next, if you're making a suggestion to someone, we could say, "We can meet at the coffee shop."

or "We could meet at the coffee shop. Can you hear the difference?" I hope you're starting

to hear and feel the difference. Again, you know, at various points, you could stop the

video or go back after you've watched the video to this part, to this board in particular,

and say these sentences aloud for yourself. That way, you will feel and hear the difference.

And I want you to start to feel that way so that you start using "could" whenever you

want to be more polite or whenever you need to be more formal. Okay? So, definitely repeat

these sentences, go back, make up your own sentences. "We could meet at the coffee shop."

"We could meet at the hotel." "We could meet at the office." Right? There are many, many

ways in which you could use this board to improve your English.

Another example of a suggestion, "You can send me the report tomorrow." It's basic.

Or, "You could send me the report tomorrow." It's a little bit nicer. I would prefer if

someone spoke to me like that. Okay. Next, here's to talk about possibility. "They couldn't

take the train." Or, "They could take the train." It's a possibility. And the last one

here is an offer, when you're making an offer to someone. For example, "I can pick you up

from the airport." That's nice. It's still nice. Or, even nicer, "I could pick you up

from the airport." Okay? So, here you see the many different ways in which we can use

the word "can" and "could". Now, let's look at how to pronounce these words correctly

and easily so that nobody misunderstands you. Because if you're trying to say "can", or

if you're - more important, if you're trying to say "I can't pick you up", they have to

hear you properly. So, this is a really important part, the pronunciation. Let's look at it.

Before we get to the pronunciation, let's just review very quickly the grammar of using

these two important words, "can" and "could". So, because they're modal verbs, we just use

the subject, the verb "can" or "could", and then the verb. The verb in its base form.

You don't need to change it at all. Okay? So, we would say something like, "I can work

on Sunday." Or, "They can work on Monday." Like that. Okay? Or, "He could work on Friday."

Or, if it's a question, the same thing. The main point is don't change the verb. Okay?

The verb doesn't have to change when we're using modal verbs. So, we could ask, "Can

you work on Tuesday?" "Could you work till 5 o'clock?" Like that. Okay? So, that's the

basic way that we use these verbs.

Now, for the pronunciation. So, what happens if we're just going to say the word, then

the word here is actually "can". Say it after me. "Can". But, in real life, we're not going

around just saying words. We're using those words in sentences. Correct? So, it will usually

sound something like this in North American English. "I can call you." Say it after me,

if you like. "I can call you." So, it got kind of condensed, right? Now, this is obviously

not the spelling. None of the red words here are the spelling. It's just kind of I'm trying

to write for you how it sounds. Okay? "I can call you." Next, this is the very important

one when you cannot do something. Okay? So, here, if we're just saying the word, we say

"can't". "Can't". There should be a difference when you say "can" and "can't". It's really

important to say that last "t" sound. Okay? So, here we go. "I can't call you." Now, here,

I'm emphasizing it. Let me emphasize it first. "I can't call you at 3 o'clock." "I can't

call you." If you're trying to say that it is not possible for you to do something, even

in the sentence, you may want to emphasize that part, that word that shows people that

you cannot do something. So, make sure you're saying the "t". It'll sound like this when

North Americans and native speakers are saying it. "I can't call you. I can't call you."

You might not hear the "t", but when you're saying it, make sure you're pronouncing the

"t" or you have another option. If you're not sure if you're pronouncing the "t" or

not, or if it's not clear, or if people misunderstand when you're speaking, then just say this instead.

"I cannot call you. I cannot call you at 3, but I could call you at 4." Okay? So, that's

another way to get around it if you find that people misunderstand when you're saying something.

Next, "could". So, this becomes also kind of shortened. "I could call you. I could call

you at 4." Say it after me. "I could call you at 4." So, it gets really condensed, and

this "couldn't" becomes "I couldn't call you. Sorry, I couldn't call you. My phone died."

Or, "Sorry, I could not call you because my phone died." All right? So, make sure that

you're also pronouncing these critical words correctly. And again, if you'd like to do

more lessons like this, in my course, Correct Your English Errors, 10 Minutes a Day, we

tackle words and situations like this, and common errors that you can fix easily once

you recognize how to do them. Okay? How to correct them. So, all the best with your English.

Bye for now. All the best.