can & could

[S&S]

A faulty connection could easily cause a fire.

Could we say "A faulty connection can easily cause a fire?" If so, what is the difference between them?

Many thanks.

[James]

If 'can' suggests 75% of the possibility, then 'could' reduces it to 55%, just for example.

[Beeesneees]

To me, 'could' is less direct. It indicates possibility in a 'polite' way.
'Can' is stronger and more direct. Thee outcome is very clear. It indicates abso;ute fact rather than possibility.
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Cheers m' dears!

[James]

I am afraid not. For example, A lion can be dangerous. = It is possible that a lion is dangerous, but not necessarily. Rather, it implies that a lion can be not dangerous depending on the situation.
But I agree to the part of politeness at the same time.

[Alan]

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Hi S&S,

'Can' and 'could' lead different lives. They are often used to express ability to do something as in:

She can swim the Channel = She is able to swim the channel. She could swim the Channel when she was a young woman = She was able to swim.

'Can' and 'could' are also used to express possibility as in your example: can easily cause a fire. If you change this to: could easily cause a fire, you are suggesting that this happens in a hypothetical (if) situation as in: could (would be able to) easily cause a fire if you didn't make the right connection.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Beeesneees]

[S&S]

I am very grateful to all of you for all your help!!!!