Difference Wiki

Could vs. Would

Although both ‘Could’ and ‘Would’ are Auxiliary Verbs in English Grammar and serve to modify the mood of a verb, they often confuse the learners to where and how to use them. To cope with such issue and to get an explicit idea about these Model Verbs, the underlying illustration would be of good help. First of all, we would take ‘Could’ into a discussion. Could is basically a ‘second form of can’ and is used to indicate a capability in the past e.g. ‘I could run faster in my childhood’ or ‘I could catch the thief when I saw him at first’. Hence, it replaces ‘Can’ for the past sentence; however, not only as past, it can be used in place of ‘can’ in the Present Tense to give the phrase a conditional tone such as ‘She could not allow her son to go out in the dark’. Thirdly, ‘Could’ also works to make a request more polite. For example, ‘could you let me know what your intentions are’? On the other hand, ‘Would’ is also a Model Verb and has a differential job. Firstly, it is used to indicate future in the past e.g. ‘She would try to work hard following the example of her brother’. Secondly, ‘Would’ works as the conditional mood of ‘will’ in the conditional sentences such as ‘I would get you a car if you followed my advice’. In a subjunctive case would is utilized to indicate an unreal condition e.g. ‘I would work more efficiently if I were you’. Thirdly, ‘Would’ is used for polite requests but with a questioning tone unlike ‘could’ e.g. ‘Would you like to let me know what had happened’? Moreover, ‘would’ is also used for Future Tense when there is a probability but not complete certainty e.g. ‘He would help you’ [there is a possibility that the third person will help.

Key Differences

Would is considered as the past form of ‘Will’ to indicate future in the past; ‘Could’ is the past form of ‘Can’ to indicate capability in the past.
'Could' can be used for polite requests; Would can be employed to raise a polite question.
Would can be adopted to indicate unreal thing; Could is not used for unreal things.
Could is used for possibility, while Would is used for less probability.
Could is used to suggest; Would is used in conditional sentences.

Comparison Chart

Usage

‘Could’ is the past form of ‘Can’ to indicate capability in the past
Considered as the past form of ‘Will’ to indicate the future in the past
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Language

Suggestion
Conditional sentences

Extra Uses

Polite requests
Polite questions

Adoption

Can be adapted to indicate an unreal thing
Cannot be used for unreal things
Janet White
Feb 03, 2016

Could and Would Definitions

Could

Inflection of can

Would

Past tense of will; usually followed by a bare infinitive.

Could

Used as a past subjunctive (contrary to fact).
I think he could do it if he really wanted to.
I wish I could fly!
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Would

Used to form the "anterior future", or "future in the past", indicating a futurity relative to a past time.
On my first day at University, I met the woman who would become my wife.

Could

Used to politely ask for permission to do something.
Could I borrow your coat?

Would

Used to; was or were habitually accustomed to; indicating an action in the past that happened repeatedly or commonly.
When we were younger, we would cycle out to the beach most summer Sundays.

Could

Used to politely ask for someone else to do something.
Could you proofread this email?

Would

Was or were determined to; indicating someone's insistence upon doing something.
I asked her to stay in with me, but she would go out.

Could

Used to show the possibility that something might happen.
We could rearrange the time if you like.
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Would

Could naturally have been expected to (given the tendencies of someone's character etc.).
He denied it, but then he would, wouldn't he?

Could

Used to suggest something.
You could try adding more salt to the soup.

Would

(archaic) Wanted to.

Could

Past participle of can

Would

(archaic) Used with ellipsis of the infinitive verb, or postponement to a relative clause, in various senses.

Could

Something that could happen, or could be the case, under different circumstances; a potentiality.

Would

(obsolete) Wished, desired (something).

Could

Was, should be, or would be, able, capable, or susceptible. Used as an auxiliary, in the past tense or in the conditional present.

Would

A modal verb, the subjunctive of will; usually followed by a bare infinitive.

Would

Used as the auxiliary of the simple conditional modality, indicating a state or action that is conditional on another.
If I won the lottery, I would give half the money to charity.

Would

Without explicit condition, or with loose or vague implied condition, indicating a hypothetical or imagined state or action.
I would love to come and visit.
Look at that yummy cake! I would eat that all up!

Would

Suggesting conditionality or potentiality in order to express a sense of politeness, tentativeness, indirectness, hesitancy, uncertainty, etc.
I would ask you all to sit down.
I would imagine that they have already left.

Would

Used to express what the speaker would do in another person's situation, as a means of giving a suggestion or recommendation.
It's disgraceful the way that they've treated you. I would write and complain.

Would

Used to express the speaker's belief or assumption.
He's very security-conscious, so he would have remembered to lock the door.
They would be arriving in London round about now.

Would

Used interrogatively to express a polite request; are (you) willing to …?
Would you pass the salt, please?

Would

Might wish (+ verb in past subjunctive); often used in the first person (with or without that) in the sense of "if only".

Would

Might desire; wish (something).

Would

Something that would happen, or would be the case, under different circumstances; a potentiality.

Would

Commonly used as an auxiliary verb, either in the past tense or in the conditional or optative present. See 2d & 3d Will.
Right as our Lord hath would.

Would

See 2d Weld.

Definition of Would

Would is a Model Auxiliary Verb works to modify the mood of the main verb in the sentence. It is usually used in conditional sentences as it depends on some conditions. Would also be used for sentences in which something is being said about the future but in the context of the past. This model verb can also be employed to raise polite questions as well.

Definition of Could

Could is a Model Auxiliary Verb and normally used in place of ‘Can’ for Past Tenses to highlight past capability. Apart from showing capability in the past, ‘Could’ is also used frequently to make polite requests. It is used for possibility e.g. ‘they could have done this job more effectively’.

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