CAN AND COULD

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CAN AND COULD
“Can” is used to talk about general abilities or possibilities in the present.
I can speak English fluently
“Could” is used to talk about past abilities or possibilities, or as a polite way to make requests.
I could swim, when I was younger.
Examples:
I can play the piano very well.
She could come to the party if she wanted to.
Can you drive me to the airport tomorrow?
I could study abroad next semester.
He can speak three languages fluently.
We could meet for lunch next week.
Can you help me with this project?
I could start my own business in the future.
She can run a marathon in under three hours.
Could you please pass the salt?
Person A: Hey, do you think you could help me with this math problem? I'm really struggling.
 Person B: Sure, I can give it a shot. What's the problem? 
Person A: Well, I can't figure out how to solve this equation. Can you explain it to me? 
Person B: Of course! I can show you the steps to solve it. First, we can simplify the equation by combining like terms. 
Person A: Okay, I think I can understand that. What's the next step? 
Person B: Next, we can use the distributive property to remove any parentheses. Then, we can solve for the variable by isolating it on one side of the equation. 
Person A: Hmm, I think I can follow those steps. Can you give me an example? 
Person B: Sure, let's say the equation is 3x + 5 = 17. We can start by subtracting 5 from both sides to get 3x = 12. 
Person A: Ah, I see. So, we can divide both sides by 3 to find the value of x. 
Person B: Exactly! By dividing both sides by 3, we can find that x = 4.
Person A: Thanks for explaining that to me. I can definitely use these steps to solve similar problems in the future. 
Person B: You're welcome! I'm glad I could help. Remember, if you ever have any more questions, you can always ask me. 
Person A: I will. Thanks again! 
Person B: No problem at all. I'm always here to assist you.
Questions:
What skills or abilities can you do well?
Could you swim when you were a child?
Can you speak more than one language?
Could you play a musical instrument when you were younger?
Could you ride a bike when you were a child?
Could you climb trees as a kid?
Can you play any instrument?
______ you please pass me the salt? a) can b) could
When I was younger, I ______ swim for hours in the pool. a) can b) could
______ you tell me how to get to the nearest shop? a) can b) could
I ______ not see the movie last night because I had to work late. a) can b) could
______ you speak French fluently when you were in high school? a) can b) could
He ______ finish his homework before dinner if he works quickly. a) can b) could
I ______ not believe my eyes when I saw the beautiful sunset. a) can b) could
______ you help me with my math homework, please? a) can b) could
I wish I ______ play the guitar like Jimi Hendrix. a) can b) could
Sarah ______ run a marathon if she trains hard enough. a) can b) could
What is the difference between can and could?
When would you use could instead of can in a sentence?