These two modals convey the idea of ability, possibility, permission, or potential to perform an action or do a task—"can" is the present-tense form, and "could" the past-tense form. Use "can" to convey possibility: "The team can win if its members are more disciplined." To convey habitual or customary action: "After breaking up with her fiancé, Joanna would get angry over trivial things." More commonly, the modal "shall" is used in formal written directives and records of corporate proceedings, as in "All workers shall be responsible for the upkeep of their respective work areas." * * *Read this essay and listen to its voice recording in The Manila Times: "Still baffled when to use 'can' or 'could' and 'will' or 'would'?

Source: Manila Times November 22, 2023 22:13 UTC