2007-01-26 15:04:33 · 5 answers · asked by kimshabe95 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
If you think of "could" as a question mark and "can" as an
exclamation mark (same as would and will) it will help.
i.e.... as in If I could go to the beach, then I can swim, or
I would like to, but I will get in trouble if I do. One is tentative
and one is positive.
2007-01-26 15:19:39 · answer #1 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I really like Terry B.'s answers above:
"If I could go to the beach, then I can swim, or I would like to, but I will get in trouble if I do."
I tend to think of 'can' as the ability to do something. Could and would are not absolutes. Will is a definate.
2007-01-26 16:22:07 · answer #2 · answered by Viewaskew 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I could answer your question, as I can tell the difference between the usage of the words. I would do it, but it is late and I am tired , so I don't think that I will do that.
2007-01-26 15:16:16 · answer #3 · answered by DrB 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Can" and "will" refer to what is going to happen. "Could" and "would" refer to something that has a possibility to happen, but is not guaranteed, unless some other criteria are met.
2007-01-26 15:16:10 · answer #4 · answered by Bob T 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I could answer this correctly, but will I ?
I can answer this correctly, but did I?
2007-01-26 16:41:46 · answer #5 · answered by fancyname 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋