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PreciousJones Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Could/can

I'm trying to be as polite as possible:

When could you give me a confirmation on our exact time to meet. Instead of

When can you give me a confirmation on our exact time to meet.

Would the both sentences work?
  

Top answer

"can" and "could" both work. "could" seems a little softer and a little less direct, though "can" is not im polite. " Note that the sentence needs a question mark.

— Mr Wordy

  • "can" and "could" both work.
  • "could" seems a little softer and a little less direct, though "can" is not im polite.
  • " Note that the sentence needs a question mark.
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1 Answers
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"can" and "could" both work. "could" seems a little softer and a little less direct, though "can" is not impolite.

Being picky about the rest of the sentence, to me it seems neater to say:

"When can/could you confirm the (exact) time of our meeting?"

Note that the sentence needs a question mark.
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