hii,
I am learning English for around 5 years and I still can’t comprehend the meaning of “would” and “count” in some context. are they just past form of “will” and “can”?
“would you like coffee” means a person is asking if you liked coffee in past? “I would do it” means I did it in past?
I really don’t understand since my language doesn’t have anything like those words.
Edit: Thank you for answering my naive question :)
Would is more definitive than could in most cases.
“That sounds like something Jim would do.”
“I don’t think Kevin would ever do that.”
But when phrased as a question, “Would you like coffee?” it’s asking your preference, again, a definitive yes/no.
Could is less about definitive fact, and more about possibilities.
“Yes, I could see Jim doing that.”
Did he do it? Did he not do it? Unknown, but the possibility is there.
“No, I don’t think Kevin could do that.”
Is it POSSIBLE Kevin did something? It’s possible, but the speaker finds it unlikely.