Could or can

"You could not ignore that" would often be referring to a past event.

So, it is always better to use can if we are talking about now, the present, or a fact. For example, you can'to ask him this question; you can't avoid him now. I just get confused because sometimes both seem possible even for the present.

Non-past "could" tends to be hypothetical, tentative or suggestive. For example, "We could go and visit your aunt", "I couldn't do that even if I practised for a year", "It could all go horribly wrong". Your sentence, on the other hand, would normally be used in a more definite way.

Got it. So the ones I provided would normally be used with can since they are more appropriate to being definite. Am I right?

So when something is more definite, can should be used? As in that can't be true , not could not; we can or could have ten people for dinner tonight; do you think he can or could win the race. So can is basically more definite compared to could in cases where both

Hello teacher, would you please confirm what I wrote in my last message. Sorry to bother you and thanks again.

AnonymousGot it. So the ones I provided would normally be used with can since they are more appropriate to being definite. Am I right?

Normally yes.

AnonymousHow about in the last sentence:

That one is not very clear-cut. You could say that "can" seems more definite, but in practice the end result in that sentence is no

Thank you very much. I really appreciate your help.

Teacher were you referring to this example that it is not very clear cut, and that can seems more definite buy in practice the end result is not hugely different: do you think he can or could win the race. would the same apply for: we could or can have ten people for dinner tonight... which also does not have a hug impact on the end result. Did I understand correctly?

Thank you again.

AnonymousTeacher were you referring to this example that it is not very clear cut, and that can seems more definite buy in practice the end result is not hugely different: do you think he can or could win the race. would the same apply for: we could or can have ten people for dinner tonight... which also does not have a hug impact on the end result. Did I understand corre

No, sorry my bad. I was referring to the examples:

we can or could have ten people for dinner tonight; do you think he can or could win the race.

So are both can and could possible? And is what I have assumed and what you have suggested that can is basically more definite compared to could, in cases where both could/can be used, as in the two examples above.