CAN and COULD

to express an ability in the present

• can

• could

• can or could

to make requests

• can

• could

• can or could

to express permission

• can

• could

• can or could

to express a possibility (like "might")

• can

• could

• can or could

to express a general possibility

• can

• could

• can or could

to make a suggestion

• can

• could

• can or could

to offer to do something

• can

• could

• can or could

to express a general ability in the past

• can

• could

• can or could

in second conditionals, including requests using a second conditional

• can

• could

• can or could