Could or Would ?

Question

HiI no longer live in the UK and I'm desperately trying to improve my written English as I would like to become a travel writer and publish information to the web about my adopted country.To be honest I really don't know where to start as my Grammer and Punctuation are so bad!So my first question isWhen do I use could and when do I use would? Please could you explain and give sentence examples.Many Thanks

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

stuckforwordsWhen do I use could and when do I use would?

My goodness! What a question! When do you use greasy and when do you use fantastic? You use words whenever you mean them!

Maybe a better approach would be to post some sentences where you are in doubt about whether to use would or could and we can help you with them.

CJ

Stuckforwords · Answer

inbound marketing project which involves

or that involves.

Please could you resend the file as a word document?

Please can you resend the file as a word document?

Please would you resend me the file as a word document?

Toms Mathew · Answer

The answer is there in your question itself.........'Please could you explain and give sentence examples.' 'Could' is the past future of 'can' and 'would' is the past future of 'will'. I would like to remind you one more thing that the spelling of grammar is 'grammar' not 'grammer'

Thank you.

Stuckforwords · Answer

Hi

Sorry, I am still non the wiser. I have never heard of past future [:^)]. How can something in the past also be in the future?

Thanks

Toms Mathew · Answer

Ok. Can you tell me why used use the sentence and in what sense  'Please could you explain and give sentence examples.' Then we would be answer.                                    Thank you.

Stuckforwords · Answer

Hi Toms,

I will post some further examples tomorrow, along with context, then you CAN or COULD explain the difference.

Thanks

Stuckforwords · Answer

Hi

I already gave some examples above....but here are some more as requested

Please can you send me further information

or would you say

Please could you send me some further information

or

Please would you send me some further information

Or

Please could you send me the recipe for arroz do peixe?

Please can you post this recipe on the forum

Please would you post this recipe

I would be grateful of a response, because I am really confused

thanks

CalifJim · Answer

stuckforwordsI would be grateful of a response, because I am really confused

The reason for your confusion is that all of these are variants of the same idea. You can use whichever one you want. (I would place please differently, as shown below.)

[Will / Can / Would / Could] you please [send me the recipe / post this recipe / send me further information]?

I placed them in a specific order: Will, Can, Would, Could.

In my opinion, the list goes from bold to shy, from more demanding to less demanding, from less deferent to more deferent in the way you are treating the reader (or listener). So "Will you please ...?" is somewhat forward, bold, and direct, while "Could you please ...?" is more polite, timid, and indirect. These words are useful for showing your attitude in making your request, but they do not change the request itself.

Boldest of all is to make a command: Send me the recipe. / Post this recipe. / ... In this pattern you have no words at all to soften the request, not even please.

CJ

Stuckforwords · Answer

Hi CalifJim

Excellent response. Thankyou!

Khoff · Answer

Toms MathewOk. Can you tell me why used use the sentence and in what sense 'Please could you explain and give sentence examples.' Then we would be answer. Thank you.

Hi Toms -- maybe you just have a couple of typos, but I find your response much more confusing than the original question!

I love the tiger, though!

Could or Would ?

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