What is the difference between present and potential?
Present vs Would
Present tense is used if something is the case. Would is used if something isn't the case but would be the case if the conditions were different. Note that sometimes the if-statement is implied.
Can vs Could
Can has several meanings but generally means that something can happen. Could can be used when something can happen but under different conditions (i.e. not presently).
May vs Might
May is generally used to express possibility. Might can be used to express possibility based on an unfulfilled condition.
Present tense is used if something is the case. Would is used if something isn't the case but would be the case if the conditions were different. Note that sometimes the if-statement is implied.
- She is happy. [vs] She would be happy if it stopped raining.
- He still works at Hio Bon. [vs] He would still work at Hio Bon if he hadn't had the courage to quit.
Can vs Could
Can has several meanings but generally means that something can happen. Could can be used when something can happen but under different conditions (i.e. not presently).
- I can speak Italian. [vs] I could speak Italian if I studied harder.
- People can save money by holidaying outside the peak season. [vs] People could save money by holidaying outside the peak season but most choose not to.
- She can run fast. [vs] She could run fast when she was in high school.
May vs Might
May is generally used to express possibility. Might can be used to express possibility based on an unfulfilled condition.
- Many of your readers may disagree. [vs] Many of your readers might disagree if you published that.
- A lunar base (if we already have a base) may provide a springboard to Mars. [vs] A lunar base (if we don't have a base) might provide a springboard to Mars.
- We may win. [vs] We might have won if we had played better.
