Modals: Could and can - both expressing possibility?

Question

Hi, are the modals 'could' and 'can' express possibility here. I thought the modals 'could' and 'might' and 'may' are the ones that express possibility. Can I include the modal 'can' in that list (if what I thought is correct)? I think the first answer part can be said to be part of a conditional.

Could you find it for me? Yes, I could find it for you.
Can you find it for me? Yes, I can find it for you.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

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Yes, one of the meanings of can is possibility. In your sentences, both can and could seem to mean ability.
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CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousHi, are the modals 'could' and 'can' express possibility here.

If I have been following your posts correctly in the past few weeks, I would have to say no. can does not express possibility in the sense you intend.

To express: It is possible that Peter will be late

we say one of these:

Peter may be late.
Peter might be late.
Peter could be late. (less often)

It would not be idiomatic to say, for that meaning,

Peter can be late.

It does not express possibility in the way that the other three do. (It actually expresses Peter's typical behavior, Peter's tendency to be late.)

For the "possibility" meaning, you have to be able to say "I don't know" at the end. All of these are fine:

Peter may be late. I don't know.
Peter might be late. I don't know.
Peter could be late. I don't know.

But not: *Peter can be late. I don't know.

All of your examples with could and can have to do more with ability than with possibility -- in the sense you have usually intended in your recent posts -- if I understand correctly what you're getting at.

Could/Can you find it for me? for example, does not mean Is it possible that you will find it for me?
I could/can find it for you does not mean It is possible that I will find it for you.

To express those meanings you need something like this

Might you (be able to) find it for me? I might/may (be able to) find it for you. (I don't know.)

As they stand, Could you find it for me? is Would you be able to find it for me? or Would you please try to find it for me?
I could find it for you is I would be able to find it for you. It is impossible to say I could find it for you. I don't know.

And Can you find it for me? is Are you able to find it for me? or Will you be able to find it for me? or Will you please try to find it for me? or Do you know how to find it for me?
Likewise, I can find it for you is I am able to find it for you or I will be able to find it for you or I know how to find it for you. It is impossible to say I can find it for you. I don't know.

CJ

Modals: Could and can - both expressing possibility?

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