I heard "could" is polite version of "can". Does this sentence sound not polite because of "can"?
Native speaker’s answer
Rebecca
Sometimes "could" sounds more polite than "can". However, intonation, context, and how the rest of a sentence is worded plays in big role in how "polite" it sounds. Therefore, the use of "could" or "can" is not solely what determines whether a sentence sounds polite or not. This sentence sounds neutral- it does not sound particularly polite, but it is not rude either.