Use of “Can” and “Could”

Use of “Can” and “Could”

1. Ability

Helping Verb	Usage	Example	Nepali Meaning
Can	Present / General Ability	She can swim very fast.	ऊ छिटो पौडी खेल्न सक्छ।
Could	Past Ability	When I was young, I could run 5 km.	जब म सानो थिएँ, म ५ किमी दौडिन सक्थेँ।

2. Possibility

Helping Verb	Usage	Example	Nepali Meaning
Can	General or real possibility	Too much noise can disturb students.	धेरै आवाजले विद्यार्थीलाई असर गर्न सक्छ।
Could	Less certain or hypothetical possibility	It could rain later.	पछि पानी पर्न सक्छ।

3. Permission

Helping Verb	Usage	Example	Nepali Meaning
Can	Asking/giving permission (informal)	Can I use your phone?	के म तिम्रो फोन प्रयोग गर्न सक्छु?
Could	More polite or formal permission	Could I please talk to the manager?	कृपया म व्यवस्थापकसँग कुरा गर्न सक्छु?

4. Requests

Helping Verb	Usage	Example	Nepali Meaning
Can	Informal request	Can you help me?	के तिमी मलाई सहयोग गर्न सक्छौ?
Could	Polite/indirect request	Could you open the window, please?	कृपया झ्याल खोलिदिनु हुन्छ?

5. Suggestions/Offers

HelpingVerb	Usage	Example	Nepali Meaning
Can	Offering help	I can carry that for you.	म तपाईंको लागि त्यो बोक्न सक्छु।
Could	Suggestion or possibility	We could go to the park.	हामी पार्क जान सक्छौं।

Summary Table

Function	Can (Present/Informal)	Could (Past/Formal/Polite)
Ability	I can drive.	I could drive when I was 18.
Possibility	It can be dangerous.	It could be dangerous.
Permission	Can I leave early?	Could I leave early, please?
Request	Can you help me?	Could you help me, please?
Suggestion/Offer	I can cook dinner tonight.	We could watch a movie tonight.