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Is the sentence “Could I smoke here?" ungrammatical?
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The correct sentence is "Can I smoke here?", but I wonder why I can't use "could" in this question.
word-choice grammaticality conditional-constructions questions
edited 10 mins ago
Nathan Tuggy
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asked 47 mins ago
Joy
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The correct sentence is "Can I smoke here?", but I wonder why I can't use "could" in this question.
word-choice grammaticality conditional-constructions questions
edited 10 mins ago
Nathan Tuggy
8,92193352
asked 47 mins ago
Joy
61
New contributor
Joy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
The correct sentence is "Can I smoke here?", but I wonder why I can't use "could" in this question.
word-choice grammaticality conditional-constructions questions
edited 10 mins ago
Nathan Tuggy
8,92193352
asked 47 mins ago
Joy
61
New contributor
Joy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
The correct sentence is "Can I smoke here?", but I wonder why I can't use "could" in this question.
word-choice grammaticality conditional-constructions questions
word-choice grammaticality conditional-constructions questions
edited 10 mins ago
Nathan Tuggy
8,92193352
asked 47 mins ago
Joy
61
New contributor
Joy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 10 mins ago
Nathan Tuggy
8,92193352
asked 47 mins ago
Joy
61
New contributor
Joy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 10 mins ago
Nathan Tuggy
8,92193352
edited 10 mins ago
Nathan Tuggy
8,92193352
edited 10 mins ago
Nathan Tuggy
8,92193352
8,92193352
asked 47 mins ago
Joy
61
New contributor
Joy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 47 mins ago
Joy
61
asked 47 mins ago
Joy
61
61
New contributor
Joy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Joy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Joy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
Actually I think it's more what is idiomatic than what is grammatical. There is nothing wrong with, "Could I smoke here?" but it doesn't mean the same thing as, "Can I smoke here?"
"Could", in this contexts, is a conditional. It implies you're asking if it's possible to do something, if some other condition is met. For example:
I know you don't like people smoking in your car, but it's been hours since my last cigarette. If I roll down the window, could I smoke?
More on the differences between "could" and "can".
(Edit) as FumbleFingers points out, the actual conditional requirement can be unstated, or even something as basic as "... if I want to". "Could" merely implies that there is some conditional involved.
answered 43 mins ago
Andrew
57.4k565125
1
I think the [required?] "conditional" could be merely implied, not explicitly stated. Which could in principle (in practice, so far as I'm concerned) be something as "weak" as [...if I wanted to]. Given here, the circumstances must be pretty "immediate", but you could certainly assume if we went in this cafe if spoken outside the cafe before having definitely agreed to enter.
– FumbleFingers
26 mins ago
1
...plus of course there's the greater "distance" implied by using could, would instead of can, will, reflecting deferential / hesitant politeness. Hence you might ask Would I be allowed to smoke?* instead of Will I be allowed? (itself already a "distanced irrealis" version of Am I allowed?).
– FumbleFingers
16 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
Could I smoke here?
adds some unknown condition, for example you don't actually have any cigarettes, or a lighter, or it is raining hard, or you don't have time to smoke.
answered 44 mins ago
Weather Vane
3,2211417
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
Actually I think it's more what is idiomatic than what is grammatical. There is nothing wrong with, "Could I smoke here?" but it doesn't mean the same thing as, "Can I smoke here?"
"Could", in this contexts, is a conditional. It implies you're asking if it's possible to do something, if some other condition is met. For example:
I know you don't like people smoking in your car, but it's been hours since my last cigarette. If I roll down the window, could I smoke?
More on the differences between "could" and "can".
(Edit) as FumbleFingers points out, the actual conditional requirement can be unstated, or even something as basic as "... if I want to". "Could" merely implies that there is some conditional involved.
answered 43 mins ago
Andrew
57.4k565125
1
I think the [required?] "conditional" could be merely implied, not explicitly stated. Which could in principle (in practice, so far as I'm concerned) be something as "weak" as [...if I wanted to]. Given here, the circumstances must be pretty "immediate", but you could certainly assume if we went in this cafe if spoken outside the cafe before having definitely agreed to enter.
– FumbleFingers
26 mins ago
1
...plus of course there's the greater "distance" implied by using could, would instead of can, will, reflecting deferential / hesitant politeness. Hence you might ask Would I be allowed to smoke?* instead of Will I be allowed? (itself already a "distanced irrealis" version of Am I allowed?).
– FumbleFingers
16 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
Actually I think it's more what is idiomatic than what is grammatical. There is nothing wrong with, "Could I smoke here?" but it doesn't mean the same thing as, "Can I smoke here?"
"Could", in this contexts, is a conditional. It implies you're asking if it's possible to do something, if some other condition is met. For example:
I know you don't like people smoking in your car, but it's been hours since my last cigarette. If I roll down the window, could I smoke?
More on the differences between "could" and "can".
(Edit) as FumbleFingers points out, the actual conditional requirement can be unstated, or even something as basic as "... if I want to". "Could" merely implies that there is some conditional involved.
answered 43 mins ago
Andrew
57.4k565125
1
I think the [required?] "conditional" could be merely implied, not explicitly stated. Which could in principle (in practice, so far as I'm concerned) be something as "weak" as [...if I wanted to]. Given here, the circumstances must be pretty "immediate", but you could certainly assume if we went in this cafe if spoken outside the cafe before having definitely agreed to enter.
– FumbleFingers
26 mins ago
1
...plus of course there's the greater "distance" implied by using could, would instead of can, will, reflecting deferential / hesitant politeness. Hence you might ask Would I be allowed to smoke?* instead of Will I be allowed? (itself already a "distanced irrealis" version of Am I allowed?).
– FumbleFingers
16 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
Actually I think it's more what is idiomatic than what is grammatical. There is nothing wrong with, "Could I smoke here?" but it doesn't mean the same thing as, "Can I smoke here?"
"Could", in this contexts, is a conditional. It implies you're asking if it's possible to do something, if some other condition is met. For example:
I know you don't like people smoking in your car, but it's been hours since my last cigarette. If I roll down the window, could I smoke?
More on the differences between "could" and "can".
(Edit) as FumbleFingers points out, the actual conditional requirement can be unstated, or even something as basic as "... if I want to". "Could" merely implies that there is some conditional involved.
answered 43 mins ago
Andrew
57.4k565125
Actually I think it's more what is idiomatic than what is grammatical. There is nothing wrong with, "Could I smoke here?" but it doesn't mean the same thing as, "Can I smoke here?"
"Could", in this contexts, is a conditional. It implies you're asking if it's possible to do something, if some other condition is met. For example:
I know you don't like people smoking in your car, but it's been hours since my last cigarette. If I roll down the window, could I smoke?
More on the differences between "could" and "can".
(Edit) as FumbleFingers points out, the actual conditional requirement can be unstated, or even something as basic as "... if I want to". "Could" merely implies that there is some conditional involved.
answered 43 mins ago
Andrew
57.4k565125
edited 24 mins ago
answered 43 mins ago
Andrew
57.4k565125
answered 43 mins ago
Andrew
57.4k565125
answered 43 mins ago
Andrew
57.4k565125
57.4k565125
1
I think the [required?] "conditional" could be merely implied, not explicitly stated. Which could in principle (in practice, so far as I'm concerned) be something as "weak" as [...if I wanted to]. Given here, the circumstances must be pretty "immediate", but you could certainly assume if we went in this cafe if spoken outside the cafe before having definitely agreed to enter.
– FumbleFingers
26 mins ago
1
...plus of course there's the greater "distance" implied by using could, would instead of can, will, reflecting deferential / hesitant politeness. Hence you might ask Would I be allowed to smoke?* instead of Will I be allowed? (itself already a "distanced irrealis" version of Am I allowed?).
– FumbleFingers
16 mins ago
add a comment |Â
1
I think the [required?] "conditional" could be merely implied, not explicitly stated. Which could in principle (in practice, so far as I'm concerned) be something as "weak" as [...if I wanted to]. Given here, the circumstances must be pretty "immediate", but you could certainly assume if we went in this cafe if spoken outside the cafe before having definitely agreed to enter.
– FumbleFingers
26 mins ago
1
...plus of course there's the greater "distance" implied by using could, would instead of can, will, reflecting deferential / hesitant politeness. Hence you might ask Would I be allowed to smoke?* instead of Will I be allowed? (itself already a "distanced irrealis" version of Am I allowed?).
– FumbleFingers
16 mins ago
1
1
I think the [required?] "conditional" could be merely implied, not explicitly stated. Which could in principle (in practice, so far as I'm concerned) be something as "weak" as [...if I wanted to]. Given here, the circumstances must be pretty "immediate", but you could certainly assume if we went in this cafe if spoken outside the cafe before having definitely agreed to enter.
– FumbleFingers
26 mins ago
I think the [required?] "conditional" could be merely implied, not explicitly stated. Which could in principle (in practice, so far as I'm concerned) be something as "weak" as [...if I wanted to]. Given here, the circumstances must be pretty "immediate", but you could certainly assume if we went in this cafe if spoken outside the cafe before having definitely agreed to enter.
– FumbleFingers
26 mins ago
1
1
...plus of course there's the greater "distance" implied by using could, would instead of can, will, reflecting deferential / hesitant politeness. Hence you might ask Would I be allowed to smoke?* instead of Will I be allowed? (itself already a "distanced irrealis" version of Am I allowed?).
– FumbleFingers
16 mins ago
...plus of course there's the greater "distance" implied by using could, would instead of can, will, reflecting deferential / hesitant politeness. Hence you might ask Would I be allowed to smoke?* instead of Will I be allowed? (itself already a "distanced irrealis" version of Am I allowed?).
– FumbleFingers
16 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
Could I smoke here?
adds some unknown condition, for example you don't actually have any cigarettes, or a lighter, or it is raining hard, or you don't have time to smoke.
answered 44 mins ago
Weather Vane
3,2211417
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
Could I smoke here?
adds some unknown condition, for example you don't actually have any cigarettes, or a lighter, or it is raining hard, or you don't have time to smoke.
answered 44 mins ago
Weather Vane
3,2211417
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
Could I smoke here?
adds some unknown condition, for example you don't actually have any cigarettes, or a lighter, or it is raining hard, or you don't have time to smoke.
answered 44 mins ago
Weather Vane
3,2211417
Could I smoke here?
adds some unknown condition, for example you don't actually have any cigarettes, or a lighter, or it is raining hard, or you don't have time to smoke.
answered 44 mins ago
Weather Vane
3,2211417
answered 44 mins ago
Weather Vane
3,2211417
answered 44 mins ago
Weather Vane
3,2211417
answered 44 mins ago
Weather Vane
3,2211417
3,2211417
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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