Your Questions: What is the difference between "could" and "would"? (Part I)

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Part I

K.N. of MP3 asked this question: How are could and would used differently? Here are some examples of could:

1. To talk about ability in the past:

• I could drive when I was fifteen.
• Could you hear me properly?

2. To make requests:

• Could you help me, please?
• Could I have a light?

3. To talk about ability in the future:

• Could you swim across this river?
• Could you lift that weight?

4. To show possibility in the present & future:

• He could be at work, but I'm not certain.
• If I were rich, I could go the Bahamas for a holiday.

5. To make suggestions for the future:

• We could have a party.
• You could see your mother and then go out afterwards.

6. To ask politely for something:

• Could you give me some help here?
• Could you come here, please?

7. To show permission politely:

• You could come on Thursday, if you like.
• The boss said you couldn't leave early.

8. As the past tense of can:

• I could run much faster when I was younger.
• Women and children could work in the mines in the last century.

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Part II

Here are some examples of would:

1. Conditionals:

• It would be better if you came.
• If we had not lost, we would be champions now.
• If I were you, I would leave straight away.

2. Wishing:

• I'd like to go to Mars.
• I wish she would look in this direction.

3. [Who] + like to ask for something:

• What would you like to do?
• I would like some information, please.

4. The past tense of will:

• I am late because the car would not start.

5. Invitations:

• Would you come with me, please?
• Would you like some tea?

6. Preferences

• I'd rather have tea than coffee.

7. Imagining things:

• A holiday would be nice.
• Wouldn't it be nice to get on with my neighbors?

8. In informal writing, we often we abbreviate the verb would with an apostrophe:

• she would = she'd

9. We can use would as a polite form of will:

• Would you tell them to come in, please?

10. We use would like as a polite form of want:

• I want a cup of tea.
• I would like a cup of tea, please.

11. It is also an invitation:

• Would you like a cup of tea?
• Would you like to go to the cinema?

12. The short form is 'd:

• I'd like to know what is going on.

Source: Copyright 2002 - 2004 Free-ESL