Timeline for What is different between "could" and "would"
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
5 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
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| Jul 14, 2016 at 12:50 | comment | added | Jay | @MontyHarder Yes, I had a teacher in elementary school who would do that. Even a bunch of children, who normally delight in obnoxious retorts, quickly found it tiresome. :-) | |
| Jul 14, 2016 at 12:48 | comment | added | Jay | @AdamDavis Not sure what you mean. If someone doesn't have the time or expertise, then he "can't". If you interpreted my "heavy box" examples to mean that "can" only refers to physical strength, okay, sorry if I was unclear, it's broader than that. "Can you translate this email from French to English?" "Sorry, no, I can't. I don't speak French." "Can you hit a target 50 yards away with a bow and arrow?" "Can you perform brain surgery?" Etc. | |
| Jul 13, 2016 at 15:52 | comment | added | Monty Harder | Sometimes when someone asks "Can you ___?" I say "Yes, I can do that. ... Would you like me to do that?" as a subtle/funny way of discouraging them from using "can/could" to mean "will/would", and instead speak clearly and plainly. But most people consider such pickiness about language unnecessary pedantry, so I'm afraid my quest is quixotic. | |
| Jul 13, 2016 at 13:53 | comment | added | Adam Davis | Keep in mind that it isn't just limited to capability. They may not have time, expertise, or simply may not feel comfortable doing the work. But the result is the same, Can and Could is a lesser request than Will and Would, which essentially aren't asking if you are available, but whether you are willing to set aside anything else in the way and help out. It's requesting a commitment that is more than a simple request. This is why the phrase is "Will you marry me?" rather than "Can you marry me?" | |
| Jul 13, 2016 at 7:39 | history | answered | Jay | CC BY-SA 3.0 |