THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COULD ABILITY AND COULD POSSIBILITY

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COULD ABILITY AND COULD POSSIBILITY

1.      Could Ability

In some cases, could functionts as the past tense of can, but there are some important usage differences between the two.

·         Can is used to say that someone or something is able to do something, either now, or as a natural characteristic, as a countinuing skill, as something learnt.

·         We tend to use could as the past tense of can to talk about ability in the past. Example:

-          I can buy a diamond. (able to buy a diamond in the present of future)

-          I could buy a diamond five years ago. (able to buy a diamond in the past, which was five years ago and can’t able to buy a diamond in the present)

2.      Could Possibiliy

We use could to talk about less definite aspects of possibility or suggested options, either now or in future. Example:

-          Could expresses a present possibility

A:  Why isn’t Bima in the office?

B:  I don’t know. He could be late.

-          Could expresses a future possibility

Look at those dark clouds and thunder. It could be a storm later.