Hi. I'm Rebecca from engVid. Can I ask you
a question? Or, could I ask you a question? Is there a difference between these two ways
of speaking to you? Well, actually, in English, there is a difference. And in this lesson,
you will learn the difference between these two very commonly used words, "can" and "could".
I'm going to explain to you exactly when to use them, how to use them, how to pronounce
them correctly, which is really important because you want to make sure that you're
conveying the right information. So, stay with me till the end, and you will learn exactly
how and when to use "can" and "could". So, let's begin. So, first of all, these two words,
"can" and "could", are the same in many ways, but they're also different. Let's look at
the ways in which they are the same. First of all, they have the same meaning. They express
many different things, including being able to do something, alright? We're going to look
at many different ways that we can use this word, but they basically have the same meaning.
Next, both of these words are modal verbs, so grammatically, they are the same. Next,
they both use the same forms, so we can use them in sentences, we can use them in questions,
no problem. And they're both used for similar purposes, such as to express the ability to do
something, to make a request, to ask permission, to make an offer, to make a suggestion, or
to discuss or talk about a possibility, okay? So, these are the ways in which these two
words are the same. However, what's important to know is that they are also different in
very important ways. One of those ways has to do with the time that we're referring to,
and the second way has to do with the tone that is conveyed when you use either "can"
or "could". So, let's start by understanding these differences. First, let's talk about time.
What do I mean that it refers to a different time? A different time means, in this case,
the present or the past. For example, I could say to you, "I can play the piano." It's a
little bit true. Okay. So, if I say, "I can do something," such as, "I can play the piano,"
what does it mean? I can do it now. I can do it in the present, correct? So, we're talking
about this time, the present. However, "can" is the present tense, and the past tense of
"can" is "could". So, that's one way in which they're different in terms of time, that "could"
is the past tense of "can". So, if I say to you, "I could play the piano when I was young,
but now I haven't played for many years, so I kind of forgot." I can play now. I could
play probably in the past, okay? That is one way to use it. There are many other ways,
but this is where the difference has to do with the time that you're talking about, the
present or the past. Got it? We're going to look at more examples,
don't worry. Next, it also has to do with tone. When we say
"can" or "could", the tone of the conversation, the way that we're expressing ourselves is
different. That means we're either being more casual or we're being more polite. Which word
do you think is more polite? It's the word "could". "Can" is more casual, more informal.
We use it. We use it. We definitely use it, but if you're speaking to someone else, perhaps
if it's somebody you know really well, you could say "can". If you want to be a more
polite person in general, you could use "could" with everyone that you know, including your
family and friends and relatives and managers and colleagues and clients, okay? Definitely
in more polite and formal situations, you would like... You should be using "could",
okay? Not "can". Let's look at an example. You could say, "Can
you help me?" It's not grammatically wrong, but the tone is more informal. Or you could
say, to be more polite, "Could you help me?" Now, of course, you could always add the word
"please", but "Can you help me, please?" "Could you help me, please?" This one is still more
polite. Whenever we say "could", it's always going to be more polite. Or, "Can I help you?"
That's more on the informal side. Or, "Could I help you?" More on the formal side, more
on the polite side. Okay? Got it? So this shows you that we can use "can" and "could" to
do with time and tone, and there is a difference. Now let's look at how this works when we're
making these kind of... We're creating these kind of situations or we are in these situations,
and we're asking permission or making a suggestion and so on, and how all of this comes
together with the words "can" and "could". Now let's look at six different contexts in
which we use "can" and "could". I mentioned to you that we can use these words for different
reasons, for different purposes. So let's look at six of the main ones, and also examples
of each, and see... You can see and you can hear how they sound
different. Okay? Let's begin. The first one, for ability. We could say "I
can speak French" or "I could speak French when I was young." So that had to do with
what? That has to do with time, right? "I can speak French" means I can speak French
now, today, in the present. "I could speak French when I was young" - talking about the
past. So when we're talking about ability and we're using "can" and "could", we're using
the "can" in the present tense and the "could" in the past tense. Good. Now let's look at the others. "Can you tell
me where the subway is?" or "Could you tell me where the subway is?" So here, and for
everything from here down, this side is going to be the more polite version, and this is
the more basic version. Okay? So, "Can you tell me?" or "Could you tell me?" "Could you"
is always more polite, also more formal. "Can you call me at 3 o'clock?" or "Could you call
me at 3?" Alright? Again, yes, it's the same request. However, it just sounds much
nicer if you use "could". Okay? Alright. Are you wrong if you use "can"? No, you're not
wrong, but definitely in more formal situations, you want to use "could". Next, for permission. We could say to someone,
"Can I borrow your book?" or, to be more polite, "Could I borrow your book?" We could say to
someone, "Can you lend me your book?" or "Could you lend me your book?" Alright? Again,
we're talking about basic and more polite. Next, if you're making a suggestion to someone,
we could say, "We can meet at the coffee shop." or "We could meet at the coffee shop. Can you
hear the difference?" I hope you're starting to hear and feel the difference. Again, you
know, at various points, you could stop the video or go back after you've watched the video
to this part, to this board in particular, and say these sentences aloud for yourself.
That way, you will feel and hear the difference. And I want you to start to feel that way so
that you start using "could" whenever you want to be more polite or whenever you need
to be more formal. Okay? So, definitely repeat these sentences, go back, make up your own
sentences. "We could meet at the coffee shop." "We could meet at the hotel." "We could meet
at the office." Right? There are many, many ways in which you could use
this board to improve your English. Another example of a suggestion, "You can
send me the report tomorrow." It's basic. Or, "You could send me the report tomorrow."
It's a little bit nicer. I would prefer if someone spoke to me like that. Okay. Next,
here's to talk about possibility. "They couldn't take the train." Or, "They could take the
train." It's a possibility. And the last one here is an offer, when you're making an offer
to someone. For example, "I can pick you up from the airport." That's nice. It's still
nice. Or, even nicer, "I could pick you up from the airport." Okay? So, here you see
the many different ways in which we can use the word "can" and "could". Now, let's look
at how to pronounce these words correctly and easily so that nobody misunderstands you.
Because if you're trying to say "can", or if you're - more important, if you're trying
to say "I can't pick you up", they have to hear you properly. So, this is a really important
part, the pronunciation. Let's look at it. Before we get to the pronunciation, let's
just review very quickly the grammar of using these two important words, "can" and "could".
So, because they're modal verbs, we just use the subject, the verb "can" or "could", and
then the verb. The verb in its base form. You don't need to change it at all. Okay?
So, we would say something like, "I can work on Sunday." Or, "They can work on Monday."
Like that. Okay? Or, "He could work on Friday." Or, if it's a question, the same thing. The
main point is don't change the verb. Okay? The verb doesn't have to change when we're
using modal verbs. So, we could ask, "Can you work on Tuesday?" "Could you work till
5 o'clock?" Like that. Okay? So, that's the basic way that we
use these verbs. Now, for the pronunciation. So, what happens
if we're just going to say the word, then the word here is actually "can". Say it after
me. "Can". But, in real life, we're not going around just saying words. We're using those
words in sentences. Correct? So, it will usually sound something like this in North American
English. "I can call you." Say it after me, if you like. "I can call you." So, it got kind
of condensed, right? Now, this is obviously not the spelling. None of the red words here
are the spelling. It's just kind of I'm trying to write for you how it sounds. Okay? "I can
call you." Next, this is the very important one when you cannot do something. Okay? So,
here, if we're just saying the word, we say "can't". "Can't". There should be a difference
when you say "can" and "can't". It's really important to say that last "t" sound. Okay?
So, here we go. "I can't call you." Now, here, I'm emphasizing it. Let me emphasize it first.
"I can't call you at 3 o'clock." "I can't call you." If you're trying to say that it
is not possible for you to do something, even in the sentence, you may want to emphasize
that part, that word that shows people that you cannot do something. So, make sure you're
saying the "t". It'll sound like this when North Americans and native speakers are saying
it. "I can't call you. I can't call you." You might not hear the "t", but when you're
saying it, make sure you're pronouncing the "t" or you have another option. If you're
not sure if you're pronouncing the "t" or not, or if it's not clear, or if people misunderstand
when you're speaking, then just say this instead. "I cannot call you. I cannot call you at 3,
but I could call you at 4." Okay? So, that's another way to get around it if you find that
people misunderstand when you're saying something. Next, "could". So, this becomes also kind of
shortened. "I could call you. I could call you at 4." Say it after me. "I could call
you at 4." So, it gets really condensed, and this "couldn't" becomes "I couldn't call you.
Sorry, I couldn't call you. My phone died." Or, "Sorry, I could not call you because my
phone died." All right? So, make sure that you're also pronouncing these critical words
correctly. And again, if you'd like to do more lessons like this, in my course, Correct
Your English Errors, 10 Minutes a Day, we tackle words and situations like this, and
common errors that you can fix easily once you recognize how to do them. Okay? How to
correct them. So, all the best with your English. Bye for now. All the best.
