Can /Could

 

          Can                                          Could

            ↓                                              ⬇

Su forma negativa es:                    Su forma negativa es:

   Cannot o can´t                          Could not o Couldn´t

      Can

It is used to indicate that you can, you have the ability or power to make a sentence.

Its synonym is: be able to.

Example:

I can do it myself

(yo puedo hacerlo por mi mismo)

    Could

It is used to indicate that something was possible but did not happen.

It is used with: have + past participle

 

Example:

You could have told me the truth.

(Usted podría haberme dicho la verdad)

Now let's combine can and could

Now let's combine can and could

It is used to express that you have (can) or had (could) the ability or the opportunity to do something.

Example:

She can speak French fluently

We could hear a car in the driveway.