Does 'could' always refer to the past?

Oct 18, 2012 ... If ping can't find a given name in the DNS, then it returns Could not find host . Alright, so we have an IP address, what now? Now we have to ... Do you use “can” and “could” correctly in English? Join me and learn how to use these two important modal verbs, in terms of grammar, vocabulary, ... Aug 11, 2002 ... Calvin Trillin writes about a test designed to determine whether wine drinkers can tell the difference between red and white only by taste ... Jun 16, 2023 ... "Could" is the past tense form of "can" and is also used as a more polite alternative in the present tense. It indicates the ability, permission, or ... Oct 14, 2012 ... 'Can' essentially indicates ability. Usually it's used for general ability, although nowadays more and more people also use it to indicate permission. Apr 3, 2019 ... “Hi, could someone please tell me the difference between the free ... I understand with the latter that you go inside Bodleian Library but can't I ... ... could have a “twindemic” on our hands — an influenza epidemic unfolding ... Since it can be hard for a clinician to distinguish whether a skin rash is ... Apr 21, 2023 ... The English language can be sometimes confusing. One specific topic that may be confusing is knowing the difference between "would" and ... Dec 29, 2021 ... "The original test could detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 with very high specificity," – meaning the test does its job very well. A PCR ... "Can" is generally used for present abilities or possibilities, while "could" is used for past abilities, polite requests, or hypothetical situations.