How might 'could' be used to describe a past general possibility?

Jul 24, 2023 ... "Could" is a bit more polite. It implies that the decision to pass the salt is up to you. Can is just fine - it's not rude or anything. Aug 15, 2023 ... Wearing a life jacket can help limit fatalities as U.S. Army Corps of Engineer (USACE) data shows that 89 percent of drowning victims are not ... Both can and could (and other modals, especially may and might) are used to express various kinds of possibility, ability, permission and potential. Oct 26, 2023 ... In some cases, 'could' functions as the past tense of 'can', but there are some important usage differences between the two. The modal verb 'can ... Can or could? That is the question of this Grammar 101 article where we explain the difference between these two commonly misused words. Read on here. In this blog post, you'll learn the usage of the modal verbs can and could and understand the difference between them. These auxiliary verbs are essential ... May 11, 2022 ... Knowing the differences between arthritis and other joint problems can help you address the root cause of your pain. Dec 31, 2022 ... Can is always be used in the present tense whereas could is always be used in the past tense. In short could is the past form of can. Mar 10, 2025 ... On the spectrum of certainty and politeness, “can” is the most direct, “could” adds a layer of politeness or uncertainty, and “would” is often ... May 6, 2024 ... Both are modal auxiliary verbs, indicating possibility, capability, permission, or ability, but they operate in different temporal contexts.