Could vs Would
Could
= 1) Past tense of “can”
= 2)Used to show possibility
Ex: You could be right about that.
= 3) Used in making polite requests
Ex: Could I use your bathroom?
Would
= 1) Past tense for “will”.
Ex: He would work for many years until he died.)
= 2)Used to express the future in past sentences
Ex: He said he would go tomorrow)
= 3) Used to show the consequence of an imagined event or situation
Ex: He would lose his job, if he didn’t go to work.)
= 4) Giving advice
Ex: I would go to work, if I was you.)
*The root word for Could = can ( “Could” can be replaced with “maybe” or “might.”)
*The root word for Would = will ( It is definite: Yes you would or No you wouldn’t)
Ex:
a)If you were an American you “could” vote for Trump. = If you were an American, you have the chance to vote, so you might vote Trump, but you might not.
b)If you were an American you “would” vote for Trump. = If you were an American, you definitely will vote for Trump.
Ex:
a)If I gave you a gun, you “could” kill someone with it. = You have the power to kill someone, so maybe you will, but maybe you won’t.
b)If I gave you a gun, you “would” kill someone with it. = If gave you the gun, you will definitely kill someone with it. (But I hope you wouldn’t)
