Can or Could - which one is correct to usein question

Question

Can you please shift a little? or Could you please shift a little?

which one of the two is correct?

This question has been asked, and answered, many times before. Please search the site before asking. Thank you. — RegDwigнt, Oct 30 '13 at 10:02

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 30 '13 at 09:45

1

Can is asking the question are you capable of it. Could is asking the question would you mind doing it. Both are grammatically correct. It's a matter of what you want to ask.

answered Oct 30 '13 at 09:45

Dr. Shuffle

101
2

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 30 '13 at 10:03

0

Both are grammatical, but the second is a little more polite. In practice, a native speaker would be more likely to say something like ‘Would you mind moving over a bit?’

answered Oct 30 '13 at 10:03

Barrie England

140,205

thanks Barrie for the reply, can you please also explain what difference will it make to use would over could? – Varun Chaturvedi Oct 31 '13 at 04:05
Would you mind is more polite than either could you or can you. – Barrie England Oct 31 '13 at 06:50

Can or Could - which one is correct to usein question

2 Answers2