3.3 Permission The usage of could when asking for permission is more polite or formal. Could is not given
in an answer (Swan 2005, 101).
67) Could I ask you something? Yes, you can. (Swan 2005, 101)
3.4 Requests, Orders, Offers and Suggestions Once again, the difference between could and can is that could is more polite, more formal
and less definite (Swan 2005, 101). It is used when a relationship of speakers is more
remote (Lewis 1986, 74).
68) Could you lend me five pounds until tomorrow? (Swan 2005, 101)
69) You could iron the clothes, if you like. (ibid.) 70) I could mend your bicycle for you, if that would help. (ibid.) 71) If you haven’t got anything to do you could sort out your photos. (ibid.)
3.4.1 “Remoteness” of Could As mentioned above, could is rather used when expressing remoteness in a social
relationship. There are two other kinds – remoteness in time and remoteness in likelihood
(Lewis 1986, 112).
Philosophical Faculty, Palacký University Olomouc
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72) I could ride a bike when I was a kid but I haven’t done it for years. (Time) (Lewis 1986, 112)
73) Could you pass me the salt please? (Relationship) (ibid.)
74) He could be a foreigner, but I don’t think so. (Likelihood) (ibid.) 3.5
