{"id":4926,"date":"2015-06-09T09:00:20","date_gmt":"2015-06-09T13:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/?p=4926"},"modified":"2015-06-01T11:52:35","modified_gmt":"2015-06-01T15:52:35","slug":"english-could-vs-would","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/english-could-vs-would\/","title":{"rendered":"English \u2018could\u2019 vs. \u2018would\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Image by Jennifer on Flickr.com.<\/p><\/div>\n

Let\u2019s take a closer look at how to use two common English modals: \u2018could\u2019 and \u2018would\u2019. If you want a brief review of the use of modal verbs in English check out this previous post<\/a> from this blog. Right now we are going to dive in to* the difference between \u2018could\u2019 and \u2018would\u2019 and when to use them.<\/p>\n

Often ESL speakers misuse, or inappropriately interchange, the words \u2018could\u2019 and \u2018would\u2019. Part of the reason for this is that they can be used interchangeably some times, i.e. when making a polite request in the form of a question (Example: Could you help me? or Would you help me?). But \u2018could\u2019 and \u2018would\u2019 are used in other ways, which are not interchangeable. \u2018Could\u2019 and \u2018would\u2019 are both used to express conditionality, or the idea that something is not sure or definite, but they have slightly different connotations.\u00a0 \u2018Could\u2019 is used to express possibility, while \u2018would\u2019 is used to express definiteness, as long as certain conditions are met.\u00a0 Keep in mind, the root words for \u2018would\u2019 and \u2018could\u2019 are \u2018will\u2019 (expresses definiteness<\/em>) and \u2018can\u2019 (expresses possibility<\/em>), respectively.<\/p>\n

Take a look at this list of the different uses of \u2018could\u2019 and \u2018would\u2019 and how they differ.<\/p>\n

could<\/strong><\/p>\n