CAN / COULD - EXPANDED USES (A2 Grammar)

CAN/COULD have multiple uses: ability, permission, requests. COULD is more polite.

Quick tip: CAN = present ability/permission. COULD = past ability OR more polite. Use COULD for politeness!

CAN = present ability

Use can for general ability in the present.

• I can swim.
• She can speak three languages.
• He can drive a car.
• Can you cook?

COULD = past ability OR polite

Could for past ability OR more polite requests than CAN.

• I could swim when I was five. (past)
• Could you help me, please? (polite)
• Could I borrow your pen? (polite)
• When I was young, I could run fast. (past)

CAN/COULD for permission

Use can to ask for permission. Could is more polite.

• Can I use your phone?
• Could I use your phone? (more polite)
• You can leave early today.
• Can we sit here?

Common mistakes

• Not "I can to swim" — say "I can swim". No TO after can/could.
• Not "She cans speak English" — say "She can speak English". CAN doesn't change - no -s.

Practise it

Need to be polite? = COULD. Ability now? = CAN. Ability in past? = COULD.