Grammar can be quite a challenge to learn and adapt to while learning a new language. When it comes to English grammar, the job just tends to become a little harder since it is one of the languages with many rules and possibilities of a wrong rule being applied to change the meaning of the sentence.
Could and would are two such words whose differentiation is not well known. The common usage for both are portraying requests but apart from these, they are not to be used in the same sentence in place of the other. But how do we identify which one to use where?
Would vs Could
The main difference between Could and Would is that could is used to portray requests or for asking permissions whereas would is used for describing a probability or a possibility. They can also be used for portraying preferences.
Could is the past principle of ‘can’. It is usually used for seeking permission and is applied only for possible situations. This means the situation is not created but it is your presence in the situation that is being questioned. For example: Could I go to the party this weekend?
Would is the past principle of ‘will’. Though they are also used for making requests, their main usage is for portraying probability or preference in a given situation. They are mostly applied to imaginary situations. For example: Would I be able to visit Mars someday?
Comparison Table between Could and Would
| Parameters of Comparison | Could | Would |
| Meaning | The past tense of can | It is the past tense of will |
| Implication | Implies seeking permission or ability of an individual | Implies probability, preference, etc. |
| Main Usage | It is mainly used to portray requests | Used in reported speech, or to express habitual actions |
| Secondary usage | For expressing ability | For expressing probability or possibility |
| Situation | Used in possible situations | Used in imaginary situations |
What is Could?
Could is a conditional verb that is frequently used in English grammar for giving meaning to a sentence. On changing the context of the word ‘could’, the meaning of the sentence may also change.
It is mainly represented as the past tense of the word ‘can’ and is often seen to be used in sentences where there is a request being made or there is a requirement to seek for permission.
For example:
- “Could I go outside today?” – In this sentence, ‘could’ is used for seeking permission
- “Could you come with me?”- In this sentence, ‘could’ is used for making a request.
The other application of the word is for showing annoyance or for showing strong denial. For example:
- “Could you please go away now?” – ‘could’ in this sentence is used for showing annoyance.
- “He talks so much that I could run away from here.” – ‘could’ in this sentence is used to show a strong denial of wanting to continue being in the given situation and the need to get away from it.
What is Would?
Would is also a conditional verb that is often used in English grammar for adding meaning to a sentence. This conditional verb also has many applications and are mostly seen to be used in reports.
They are the past principle of ‘will’ and are often seen to be used to express habitual actions of an individual. For example:
“She would do that.” Or “It is something she would do.”
They are typically also used for showing possibility or asking and expressing preferences. For example:
- “Would it rain today?”- here, ‘would’ is used to show possibility.
- “I would prefer tea over coffee.”- here ‘would’ is used to express a preference.
Main Differences Between Could and Would
- Could is a conditional verb that is defined as the past principle of ‘can’ whereas would is the conditional verb that is used as the past principle of ‘will.’
- The two words imply different meanings and this is what differentiates them. The word ‘could’ implies seeking permission or making a request. On the other hand, the word ‘would’ implies preferences and probabilities during a situation.
- Since the implications are different, their primary applications are also different. Would is used in reported speech and for showing habitual actions whereas could is used for making requests.
- The secondary application of the word ‘would’ is for expressing probability and preference. The secondary application of the word ‘could’ is for expressing one’s ability.
- The situations the two words are used can also be sued for clearing their separate usage. Could is used in possible situations as it would be indicating the possible presence of something during an actual situation. In the case of would, it is used in imaginary situations as the scene or the necessary situation is not happening yet.
Conclusion
Could and would are words that are often told to be used interchangeably in sentences. For example: ‘Would I attend the meeting tonight?’ or ‘Could I attend the meeting tonight?’. They are both used for showing requests but apart from this common application, there are other applications of these words that differ.
Could is often used to express when one is seeking permissions or making requests. They can also be used for expressing one’s ability. Apart from these, the other applications could are for showing annoyance and for showing strong denial. For example: “He is annoying me so much that I could drown him in the water right now!”
Would is often used to express possibility or probability as one may say. They are also used for asking preferences or for habitual actions. Would is often seen to be used in reported speech as it is a formal conditional verb. For example: “Would you look at the time? I have to be at college by now.”
The difference between the use of would and could is that they applied differently and depending on the situation they are being used. Would be used to define an imaginary situation whereas could is used for a possible situation that depends on the possibility of your presence in the situation.
References
- Oxford Modern English Grammar – Bas Aarts – Google Books
- Modal expressions in English (semanticscholar.org)