Aug 1, 2022 11:30
1 yr ago
39 viewers *
English term
can vs could
Non-PRO
English
Other
Other
English Grammar, Murphey
I have a question about using CAN and COULD.
Unit 37 of English Grammar in Use by Murphey says
: "We also use could (not can) to say that something is possible now or in the future:
1. The story could be true, but I don’t think it is. (not can be true)
2. I don’t know what time Lisa is coming. She could get here at any time.
3. The weather is nice now, but it could change later. (the weather now, not in general)
4. The company Amy works for isn’t doing well. She could lose her job.
5. Be careful climbing that tree. You could fall.
I just want to check if it's really so now, that is in the contemporary English language.
Or could use 'can' in at least some of the above sentences?
Thank you in advance.
Unit 37 of English Grammar in Use by Murphey says
: "We also use could (not can) to say that something is possible now or in the future:
1. The story could be true, but I don’t think it is. (not can be true)
2. I don’t know what time Lisa is coming. She could get here at any time.
3. The weather is nice now, but it could change later. (the weather now, not in general)
4. The company Amy works for isn’t doing well. She could lose her job.
5. Be careful climbing that tree. You could fall.
I just want to check if it's really so now, that is in the contemporary English language.
Or could use 'can' in at least some of the above sentences?
Thank you in advance.
Responses
| 4 +7 | No can do |
writeaway
|
| 4 | can won't work in any of those sentences |
ÖZGÜR ÜSTÜN
|
Responses
+7
5 mins
Selected
No can do
Could is correct in all those sentences. Can won't work.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Clauwolf
8 mins
|
| agree |
Charlotte Fleming
46 mins
|
| agree |
Rachel Fell
1 hr
|
| agree |
Christine Andersen
2 hrs
|
| agree |
Tony M
3 hrs
|
| agree |
ÖZGÜR ÜSTÜN
18 hrs
|
| agree |
Barbara Carrara
19 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you very much Tony. "
18 hrs
ÖZGÜR ÜSTÜN
Türkiye
Türkiye
Türkiye
Fast and meticulous
Native in: Turkish 
Works in: English to Turkish, Turkish to English, Turkish, and 1 more.
can won't work in any of those sentences
In each of the sentences there is a possibility of something (happening, being at a certain state, or not) None of them argue ability or talent.
Discussion
In the very last sentence, it would be possible to use 'can' with a slightly changed meaning — perhaps expressing less doubt: "You can fall." = it is possible for you to fall; but this would be the less usual usage in normal EN.