[Grammar] It could be dangerous to cycle in the city...

[NAL123]

Consider these sentences, please:

1) A: Where is John?
B: He could be in the market. (mine)

2) It could be dangerous to cycle in the city. (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/can-could-or-may)

3) Working in London next summer could be a great experience.

The three "coulds" in 1), 2) and 3) are very similar, because:

a) They look exactly the same.

b) They all mean "possibility."

c) They can all be replaced by "might."

d) They are all "tentative."

Q1) Are they completely same?

Q2) If not, how does a native speaker of English differentiate among the three "coulds", which have so much in common?

[Note: There is only one question here, because Q2) depends on the reply to Q1)]

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Are you asking whether they all mean the same thing as might? Yes, they do.

Exactly? In your examples, could and might would mean exactly the same thing to me.

Let's see if anyone else here sees a difference.

 

[NAL123]

Are you asking whether they all mean the same thing as might? Yes, they do.

Exactly? In your examples, could and might would mean exactly the same thing to me.

Let's see if anyone else here sees a difference.

My first question was: Are the three "coulds" in sentences 1), 2) and 3) completely same, because they seem very similar as indicated in the OP?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

My first question was: Are the three "coulds" in sentences 1), 2) and 3) completely same, because they seem very similar as indicated in the OP?

To me, they're the same word used the same way.

Again, let's see if anyone else thinks there's a difference.

 

[NAL123]

To me, they're the same word used the same way.

Again, let's see if anyone else thinks there's a difference.

Just looking at the sentences as they stand, Can I say sentences 1,2 and 3 in the OP mean the following:


a) The statement that "He is in the market" is possibly true (maybe).

b) The statement that "It is/will be dangerous to cycle in the city" is possibly true (maybe).

c) The statement that "Working in London next summer will be a great experience" is possibly true (maybe).