can vs could - may vs must

• Engels
• Middelbare school

can & could

When do we use can?

- To define ability.

- To give/seek permission.

- To make a request.

- To express some possibility.

To define ability.

She can play the piano.

I cannot run a marathon.

To give/seek permission.

You can come with us, if you want to.

She can use my pen.

To make a request.

Can you get me a glass of water please?

Can you speak a bit louder?

To express some possibility.

Eating too much McDonald's can make you fat.

You can check the reference and practice page.

Ability

Permission

Request

Possibility

Can you bring me some flowers?

She can bring the book next week.

You can try if you want.

You cannot be a ballerina without practice.

When do we use could?

- To show that someone has the ability to do something.

- To seek permission in a polite manner.

- To make a request.

- To give a suggestion or advice.

- In imaginary situations or wishes.

- To express a slight possibility.

To show that someone has the ability to do something.

She could help him instead of standing still.

This boss is too difficult, could you defeat him for me?

To seek permission in a polite manner.

Could I go to the toilet?

Could Simon come with us today?

To make a request.

Could you wait for me, please?

Could you ask her to come too?

To give a suggestion or advice.

He could go and ask for help.

She could get a haircut.

In imaginary situations or wishes.

I wish I could be in Japan right now.

If that happened you could have been there.

To express a slight possibility.

We could all win the nobel prize.

You could be the first person on mars.

to show ability

Permission

Request

Suggestion or advice

imaginary situation

slight possibility

Could you pass the salt?

I could make it for you.

Could I make a phone call?

Elon could meet a martian.

Sarah could ask for directions.

We could be royalty.

Show what you know

On the next slide please use 

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