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Tracy Elina
I love these biscuits. I could eat the whole packet.
If I can use CAN to instead of COULD? What's the slightly difference?
2022년 2월 13일 오후 5:24
답변 · 7
2
'Could' is often used when there is a condition that must be fulfilled in order for the thing to happen.
For example:
'I could eat the whole packet of biscuits, if I was hungry'
vs
'I can eat the whole packet of biscuits.'
In this example, saying 'could' implies that you can eat the whole packet, but you probably wouldn't do that because it would be extreme. Using this word 'could' emphasises how much you love these biscuits. But if you were to use the word 'can' here, it would be more like just stating a fact.
Another example: (common British expression)
'I am so hungry. I could eat a horse'. (This is how hungry I am)
vs
'I am so hungry. I can eat a horse'. (I am literally able to eat a horse)
Hope this helps!
2022년 2월 13일
COULD sounds like you really like them, but aren't going to eat the whole packet.
CAN sounds like you have a plan to do so, and are going to eat the whole packet.
Also, FYI, in the U.S. these would be COOKIES (biscuits are something completely different in the U.S.)
2022년 2월 14일
COULD - hypothetically speaking
CAN - ability / possibility
2022년 2월 14일
아직도 답을 찾지 못하셨나요?
질문을 남겨보세요. 원어민이 도움을 줄 수 있을 거예요!
Tracy Elina
언어 구사 능력
중국어(북경어), 영어, 프랑스어, 스페인어
학습 언어
영어, 프랑스어, 스페인어
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