USE OF CAN/ COULD

 COULD is the past form of CAN.

 COULD and COULDN’T have the same form in all persons.
 COULD is followed by and INFINITIVE (without to).

 CAN / COULD express an ability.

I can swim. / I could climb trees when I was young.

 CAN / COULD express a possibility (and not certainty).

They could come by car. (= May be they will come by car)

 CAN’T / COULDN’T express impossibility.

That can’t be serious.

 CAN / COULD express general statements about what is possible.

It can be very cold here in winter. (= It is sometimes very cold here in winter)
New York is a really big city. You could easily get lost in the city center last night.

 We use CAN / COULD to ask for permission to do something.

Can we go home now? / Can I ask a question, please? (more informal)
Could we go home now? / Could I ask a question, please? (more formal and polite than CAN).


 We use CAN / COULD to make offers.
Can I help you? / Can I do that for you?

I can do that for you if you like.

I could give you a lift to the station. (more polite)

 We use CAN/ COULD to make requests.

➢ COULD YOU as a polite way to make a request.
Could you carry my bag (please)? / Could you give me some advice?

➢ CAN is less polite:

Can you carry my bag?

A request is when we ask someone to do something for us. Since we are asking someone for
help, it is important to be polite. We must avoid being too direct:
I want some help. / Pass me the salt. / Can you hold this?

These are not polite requests. People might get offended because they will think we are giving
them orders.

Sources:
https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/english-grammar-reference/can-could
https://www.crownacademyenglish.com/polite-requests-english/