can/could

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It's for entrepreneurs who want to get involved and think that they can/could make a difference.

I believe 'can' should be used. However, is it possible to use 'could'?

Many thanks.

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I'd prefer "could".

It's conditional, that is, dependent on other factors.

"If we were part of this scheme, we could certainly make a difference."

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Re: can/could

Yoong Liat wrote:

It's for entrepreneurs who want to get involved and think that they can/could make a difference.

I believe 'can' should be used. However, is it possible to use 'could'?

Many thanks.

The definition of can and could are identical. They both say, "It's possible that ...". So the choice must relate to something else. While the defintions are the same, the nuances are not.

McTag has noted that could is more iffy, but can IS conditional too. 'can' points to a greater reality, could to the iffier, so someone who wants to express greater sense of reality would/could choose can. Using could projects a, well, McTag has told you what that expresses.

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Re: can/could

Yoong Liat wrote:

It's for entrepreneurs who want to get involved and think that they can/could make a difference.

I believe 'can' should be used. However, is it possible to use 'could'?

Many thanks.

If you can cancan that could make a difference.

If you could cancan that can make a difference.

If you can't cancan I couldn't show more indifference.

If it's a disappearing trick you're an entrepreneur.

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It's for entrepreneurs who want to get involved and think that they can/could make a difference

The "time" (tense) of the sentence must all be the same.

It is
for entrepreneurs
who want
to get involved
and
(who) think
that
they can make
a difference.

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SULLYFISH66 wrote:

It's for entrepreneurs who want to get involved and think that they can/could make a difference

The "time" (tense) of the sentence must all be the same.

It is
for entrepreneurs
who want
to get involved
and
(who) think
that
they can make
a difference.

With both 'can' and 'could', it's the same, SF, because neither 'can' nor 'could' have any tense. They are tenseless modal auxiliaries.

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Sounds like an advertising slogan, anyway . . .

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can/could

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