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When to Use Could you and can you?

Written by William Howard — 0 Views
If taken literally, "Can you" is equivalent to asking the person if they're capable of doing something. "Could you", on the other hand, implies that the action can be completed under some circumstances by the person. The usage of can you is idiomatic, and hence, is more popular used phrase of the two.

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Also know, when should I use can and could?

Uses of Can and Could

  1. Ability.
  2. Can expresses ability. Cannot (can't) shows inability.
  3. Could.
  4. Could is the past tense of can. It is used to talk about ability that existed in the past.
  5. Indirect speech.
  6. Could is the past tense of can in indirect speech.
  7. Possibility or uncertainty.
  8. Could may express possibility or uncertainty.

Also, could you or can you or would you? The most proper way to use these words is to use "could" if you're not sure if the person is able to do something. If you know the person is capable of doing what is asked, then it's better to use "would".

Also to know, when to Use Could you please?

"Could you please" is generally used when the person obviously can do what you ask, and you want to add more meaning than just "Please hand me my hat." Your tone of voice will indicate whether you are being extra polite (you know you should have picked up your hat before you moved several feet away), or emphasizing

Can I vs May I?

The only difference between the two verbs is that one is more polite than the other. In informal contexts it's perfectly acceptable to use can; in formal situations it would be better to use may.

Related Question Answers

Can and could sentence examples?

Can Could with Many Examples
CAN/COULD (AFFIRMATIVE)
PAST ABILITY He could run very fast when he was a child.
PAST REPEATED ACTIONS I could run marathons when I was younger.
PAST SINGLE ACTION, STATIVE VERB She could feel the wind on her face.
PAST SINGLE ACTION, ACTION VERB NOT POSSIBLE!

Can you please or could you please?

If taken literally, "Can you" is equivalent to asking the person if they're capable of doing something. "Could you", on the other hand, implies that the action can be completed under some circumstances by the person. The usage of can you is idiomatic, and hence, is more popular used phrase of the two.

Can past tense?

Could is used as the past tense of "can".

Can could be able to grammar?

'Can' is a modal auxiliary verb that expresses general ability in the present tense; 'could' works the same way, but in the past tense. 'To be able to' is not a modal auxiliary verb. It is the conjugated verb 'to be' + the adverb 'able' + the infinitive 'to'.

Will and would use?

Will and would are verbs, and each can be used many different ways. Will can be a present tense verb that means to cause something to happen through force of desire. Would is a past tense form of will. It is also a conditional verb that indicates an action that would happen under certain conditions.

Could uses in sentences?

Here are some more examples:
  • People could do so much more for their community.
  • I couldn't have said it better myself.
  • We could have left the party earlier.
  • The girl was crying because she couldn't find her parents.
  • You could have stopped by the grocery store. We need some milk.
  • I couldn't have done it without you.

What is the future tense of could?

The use of 'could', 'would', or 'will be' all imply future tense. The past tense version would be: "Can" may be used either as future or present tense, but using "is" or "am" almost always implies present tense.

How do you ask for help in English?

  1. (To) give (someone) a hand / (To) lend (someone) a hand. This is another really common way to ask for help in English.
  2. To help someone out. Help me out, help you out, help them out.
  3. (To) help out. It can be with assistance or it can be with money.
  4. (To) do (someone) a favour.
  5. I could use some help.
  6. I could use a hand.

Can you please check and let me know?

Could you please let me know if/whether you have checked … I would [greatly] appreciate it if you could let me know if/whether/when you have checked … The problem with to kindly ask (apart from the split infinitive, which is cumbersome) is that it says that you are being kind when asking: you are asking kindly.

Will you please meaning?

If you please is sometimes used as a very polite and formal way of attracting someone's attention or of asking them to do something.

Can you help us please?

Now, "would you help me, please" sounds bit less insistent to me than using could, I suppose because it's asking if one is willing to help rather than if one is able to. "Won't you help me" usually doesn't go with "please" since it is really asking if the person is unwilling to help even though he should.

Can you please clarify?

When you ask someone to clarify something for you, it suggests that you are following what the person is saying and understand the majority or all of the key points, but you need more details on a certain point. Or perhaps the other person wasn't fully clear (it happens!) so they need to restate their idea another way.

Do you have to put a comma after please?

There is no strict rule, you are right. But inserting or omitting the comma after a leading "Please" can change the meaning of your sentence. A comma is almost always required before "please" at the end of the sentence. Whether to use a comma or not depends on what you mean to say.

Can you kindly send me?

Both are polite, and no reasonable professor would take objection to either. If you wanted to sound a little more formal, you could say I should be most grateful if you would send me the document. I would prefer the word please in more formal communications. Kindly would be better-suited for familiar environments.

Is could you please a question?

A true yes-no question has rising intonation: 'Could you /find it?' It is possible to give the request a rising intonation too, which sounds more uncertain or more polite, but it is more likely to have the falling intonation of a statement: 'Could you please send me a catalogue.

When we use can?

"Can" is one of the most commonly used modal verbs in English. It can be used to express ability or opportunity, to request or offer permission, and to show possibility or impossibility. Examples: I can ride a horse.

Where do we use could?

"Could" is a modal verb used to express possibility or past ability as well as to make suggestions and requests. "Could" is also commonly used in conditional sentences as the conditional form of "can." Examples: Extreme rain could cause the river to flood the city.

Will you be able or would you be able?

Would you be able to (do something)? This is a rather polite way to ask someone to do something. It's polite because the phrase "would you" is less direct than "Can you" or "Will you".

Will be meaning in English?

will modal verb (FUTURE) A2. (also 'll) used to talk about what is going to happen in the future, especially things that you are certain about or things that are planned: Clare will be five years old next month.