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Ty123 Posted 8 years ago
Grammar

Can’t

What’s the difference: Can’t/couldn’t you get some napkins from the bar?
  

Top answer

" I guess you could say there might be some difference in tone, "couldn't" being smoother: Alice: There is no way to get a napkin. Greg: Can't …? or Alice: The napkin holder is empty, and I have chocolate on my face.

— Anonymous

  • " I guess you could say there might be some difference in tone, "couldn't" being smoother: Alice: There is no way to get a napkin.
  • Greg: Can't …?
  • or Alice: The napkin holder is empty, and I have chocolate on my face.
  • Greg: Couldn't …?
  • They can also be different: Alice: I asked everybody for some napkins, and they all refused.
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2 Answers
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They can be pretty much the same, meaning "Isn't it possible to get some napkins from the bar?" I guess you could say there might be some difference in tone, "couldn't" being smoother:

Alice: There is no way to get a napkin.

Greg: Can't …?

or

Alice: The napkin holder is empty, and I have chocolate on my face.

Greg: Couldn't …?


They can also be different

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ty123 What’s the difference: Can’t/couldn’t you get some napkins from the bar?

'can' is present; 'could' is past.

Isn't it possible to get napkins ...? Are you not able to ...?
Wasn't it possible to get napkins ...? Were you not able to ...?

Also, in other contexts, 'couldn't' is a more polite form of 'can't'.

CJ

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