Grammar › Can and could

Can and could: questions

450 fill-in-the-gap exercises, 45 tests of ten

Move the modal in front of the subject. Could is the polite version, not necessarily the past one.

The pattern

Swap the modal and the subject:

You can drive. → Can you drive?

can or could in a request

Both work; could is softer and safer with someone you do not know:

• Can you open the window? — fine with a friend.
• Could you open the window? — fine with anyone.
• Would you mind opening the window? — the most formal of the three.

Nothing here is about time. Could is doing politeness.

Asking for permission

Can I and Could I both ask; May I is the formal option:

• Can I sit here?
• Could I have the bill, please?
• May I come in?

Answering

A real question about ability takes a short answer: Can you swim? — Yes, I can.

A request does not. Could you help me? — Yes, I could sounds grudging. The natural replies are Of course, Sure, Certainly, or an apology.

All forms

Examples

Taken from the 450 sentences in this drill. The answer is highlighted.

• If you had the receipt, could you return the lamp to the shop?
• A year in the garage is behind him; can he fix the car engine by now?
• When he was off work, could he come to the party?
• The lessons have been running since the spring, so can you cook a tasty meal yet?
• If the tide were out, could we build a sandcastle at the beach?
• The course started in September, so can they speak Chinese yet?
• Before the ankle injury, could he jump over that hurdle?
• She has met him three times this month, so can she remember his name yet?
• If there were room along the wall, could I keep my bike in your garage?
• They have been practising with the new deck for weeks; can they perform a magic trick yet?
• If you weren't rushing off, could we have a moment to talk?
• The lessons started in January, so can she draw beautifully by now?

Mistakes to avoid

Quick choices from this form

Other forms of Can and could