will/would/can/could in question

[Bulone]

Hi all,
I know when to use "can" and when to use "could" in interrogative context. But I still don't know how to use "will" and "would"? As an instance, what is the difference among following sentences? Can "will and would" be used interchangeably in the place of "can and could"?

Would you give me your pen?
Will you give me your pen?
Can you give me your pen?
Could you give me your pen?

I appreciate your input.

Bulone

[Vietanhpham_Winter]

Do you know why could, would are used to make polite requests? It's because they have subjunctive mood. You use subjunctive mood in this structure to imply that you don't really know whether the listener accept your request or not. Would you give me your pen implies that I really need your pen but accepting my request depends on you and you may also not lend me your pen. Whereas will you give me your pen implies that you order the listener to give you the pen and he has no other choice but to accept your request. That's also why people use subjunctive mood for making wishes, conditional sentences, assumptions and deductions..etc. These kinds of sentences do have some pieces of unreal actions.
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Nothing's impossible! Never say never! They're what I've been following. Hope you to follow them too!

[Nezzy]

when do i get started?

[Vietanhpham_Winter]

How? Just see the other and do as they do. Welcome to this forum. Hope you enjoy it. P/S ask whatever you wonder by clicking New Topic and answer whatever you know about some topic by clicking Post Reply.
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Nothing's impossible! Never say never! They're what I've been following. Hope you to follow them too!

[Bulone]

[David30]

[Vietanhpham_Winter]

Can and Will are different from each other. Can is used for a possibility while Will is used for a future action.
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Nothing's impossible! Never say never! They're what I've been following. Hope you to follow them too!

[Bulone]

[Vietanhpham_Winter]

Oh yeah. Can is more polite than Will.
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Nothing's impossible! Never say never! They're what I've been following. Hope you to follow them too!

[Kitosdad]

The above are known as: Modal Verbs. Here is a list of the most commonly used ones.

Could.
Would.
Should.
Will.
Might.
May.
Must.
Can.
Shall.
Ought (to)

What are Modal Verbs?

Modal verbs are special verbs which behave very differently from normal verbs. Here are some important differences:

1. Modal verbs do not take "-s" in the third person.

Examples:
* He can speak Chinese.
* She should be here by 9:00.

2. You use "not" to make modal verbs negative, even in Simple Present and Simple Past.

Examples:
* He should not be late.
* They might not come to the party.
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Keep it simple ... Keep it interesting.

[Bulone]

[Vietanhpham_Winter]

Of course could is the most polite one. As mr. Kitosdad said, they all are modal verbs which require a motion verb after.
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Nothing's impossible! Never say never! They're what I've been following. Hope you to follow them too!

[Mengemann]

I have always had problems in trying to identify modality. I would like to ask a question about the use of "would" in this context:
"Because of their pride in their cuisine, some French people are concerned that U.S. restaurant chains crowd out their own products with fast food. Some French people would argue that fast food does not belong in French society and is of lower quality than their own." (Taken from Globalization101.org) Do you think it only implies hypothetical situation / conditional? Or native speakers mean something different when using it in a situation like this one? It is a bit difficult to identify a speaker's intention when you are not native. Thank you very much.