Definitions
- Talking about a possibility or ability in the past. - Asking for permission or making a polite request. - Expressing a suggestion or offering help.
- Asking for permission or making a polite request. - Talking about a possibility or likelihood in the present or future. - Expressing a wish or hope.
List of Similarities
- 1Both could and may are modal verbs used to express possibility or permission.
- 2Both can be used to make polite requests.
- 3Both can be used to talk about a possibility or likelihood.
What is the difference?
- 1Formality: May is considered more formal and polite than could.
- 2Permission: May is used specifically to ask for permission, while could can also be used to make a polite request.
- 3Suggestion: Could is used to express a suggestion or offer help, while may is not typically used in this context.
- 4Certainty: May implies a higher degree of certainty than could.
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Remember this!
Could and may are both modal verbs used to express possibility or permission. However, could is used to talk about a possibility or ability in the past, while may is used to talk about a possibility or likelihood in the present or future. Additionally, may is considered more formal and polite than could, and is specifically used to ask for permission.
