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Study the information about modal verbs ‘can’ and ‘could’.
 
Modal verb ‘can’:
 
1. Possibility

We use the modal can to make general statements about what is possible:

It can be very cold in winter. (= It is sometimes very cold in winter)
  
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2. We use could as the past tense of can:
 
It could be very cold in winter. (=Sometimes it was very cold in winter.)
  
3. We use could to show that something is possible in the future, but not certain:
 
If we don’t hurry we could be late.
  
4. We use could have to show that something is/was possible now or at some time in the past:
 
It’s ten o’clock. They could have arrived now.
 
5. Impossibility:

We use the negative can’t or cannot to show that something is impossible:
 
That can’t be true.
Mark cannot be serious.
  
6. We use couldn’t/could not to talk about the past:
  
They knew it could not be true.
 
7. Ability:

We use can to talk about someone’s skill or general abilities:
 
She can swim like a fish.

They can’t dance very well.
  
We use can to talk about the ability to do something at a given time in the present or future:
 
You can make a lot of money if you are lucky.

We use could to talk about past time:
 
She could play volleyball.
  
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8. Permission:

We use can to ask for permission to do something:
 
Can I ask a question, please?
  
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Could is more formal and polite than can:
 
Could I ask a question please?
 
We use can to give permission:
 
You can go home now if you like.
  
We use can to say that someone has permission to do something:
 
Students can travel free.
  
9. Instructions and requests:

We use could you as a polite way of telling or asking someone to do something:
 
Could you take a message please?
 
Can is less polite:
 
Can you take a message please?
 
10. Offers and invitations:

We use can I … to make offers:
 
Can I help you?