1

What is the difference between the following sentences? for me both are same.

you can search it in google & you could search it in google

Joann
  • 129
  • 1
    but you could search it in google may means that you did search it in google. right? – Joann May 16 '16 at 11:14
  • "You searched it in Google" means you performed this action sometime in the past.You "could" (possibly) also say: "I googled it" or you "could" (another possibility) say: "I did a search on Google". If the person did not use Google in the past but perhaps it would have been a good idea, then say: "You could have searched in Google." – Mari-Lou A May 16 '16 at 11:25
  • https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/modal-verbs/can-or-could – Max Williams May 16 '16 at 11:27
  • ok, another doubt, why did you use you could (possibly) also say "I googled it" instead of you can say "I googled it" – Joann May 16 '16 at 11:29
  • To notify a user you need to place this symbol @ before their username as in @MaxWilliams. Could talks about possibility, it is marginally less certain than can, and it is also considered to be more "polite" than "can". May I ask if you have read the older question and its answers? I ask because I see you have asked a new question about "can" vs "could", which explains why I'm here at your older question. – Mari-Lou A May 17 '16 at 12:33
  • @mari lou, So Can you go? and Could you go? are same meaning. Right, am asking you this because somebody told me that could you go? is not appropriate as Can you go – Joann May 17 '16 at 12:36
  • If you give me the context I could say whether that person was correct. Compare these two: 1. "You can park here" and 2. "You could park here." No 1. says you have permission, it might also mean that you have the ability to do this, but normally we would think the statement refers to permission. No. 2 refers to possibility A =There is a possibility that you are able to park here OR it might refer to something that was possible in the past, as in: B = Last month you could park for free, now you have to pay". Context will tells us if it is meaning A or B – Mari-Lou A May 17 '16 at 12:44

0 Answers0