Correct Use of Could and Would | English Grammar | Modal Verbs | Learn English

Could and Would

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Today we are going to learn about how to use would and could in English.
We will talk about different situations in which we can use could or would.
First situation
Usage in the past tense
‘Could’ is the past tense of ‘can’
and ‘would’ is the past tense of ‘will’.
He can ride a horse. According to this sentence he has the ability to ride a horse in the present time.
But when we use could like
He could ride a horse when he was younger.
This sentence shows at the present time he does not have the ability to ride a horse but in the past he has ability to ride a horse.
“Could” tells us about the capability of someone to be able to do something in the past.
On the other hand will is used with the future tense.
My mother will take me to the market. According to this sentence, I am sure that my mother will take me to the market.
But when we use would the whole sentence change like
My mother would take me to the market everyday when I was little. According to this sentence, in the past my mother took me to the market everyday but now the situation has changed.
This is the first difference between could and would.
Now we will talk about the second situation in which we can use could or would.
Use COULD For Possibilities
He could go to Paris next week. According to this sentence, he will go to Paris next week. It is not sure if he will go or not. That's why we used could with this sentence.
Ria could be the one who stole the money. According to this sentence, may be Ria is the one who stole the money. It is also possible that she did not steal the money. That's why we used could with this sentence.
Use WOULD For Unreal Or Unlikely Situations
If you had helped me, I would have been successful. According to this sentence he did not help him. This situation is completely imaginary. That is why we used would with this sentence.
If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house. According to this sentence he never won the lottery. This situation is unreal.That is why we used would with this sentence.

Now We will talk about the third situation in which we can use could or would.

Could can be used to express Suggestion, Condition,Polite request and permission. You can notice these features by looking at the examples below:
We could go shopping together.- Suggestion We used could with suggestion. In this sentence suggestion of shopping is given.
If I had more time, I could travel around the world.-Condition We used could with Conditional sentences. He is putting the condition of time for travelling.
Could you open the door for me, please?-Polite request We used could with Polite requests. In this sentence request is made by speaker.
Could I borrow your pencil?- permission We used could with permission. In this sentence the speaker is asking for permission to borrow a pencil.

Would can also be used to express a wish, offer and request.You can notice these features by looking at the examples below:
I would like to win this tournament. – Wish It is his wish to win a tournament. We always used would with wish.
Would you like some more tea? – Offer we used would with offer. Speaker is giving him offer for tea.
Would you excuse me just one second?-request Using would makes the request more formal and polite. That is why we used would with this sentence.

I hope everyone will understand this lecture. I tried my best to make this lecture useful for everyone. You can watch this lecture again if you have any doubt.
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