can prove successful vs could prove successful

Both "can prove successful" and "could prove successful" are correct and commonly used in English. The choice between them depends on the context and the level of certainty or possibility the speaker wants to convey.

Last updated: March 25, 2024 • 960 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express the possibility of success.

"can prove successful"

This phrase is used to indicate that something has the potential to be successful. It implies a general possibility without specifying a particular condition or time frame.

Examples:

With the right strategy, this marketing campaign can prove successful.
Hard work and dedication can prove successful in achieving your goals.

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I hope my investigations prove successful.
The EU's political credibility and competence must prove successful.
The geopolitical picture would change considerably if Iceland's EU accession negotiations prove successful.
If that proves successful, we have a chance to revitalise cross-border rail transport.
If this proves successful and if the first initiatives that are being launched prove successful, then we can go to the Member States to see whether there is a willingness to proceed further in the direction of greater integration of maritime affairs.
We therefore hope that the IGC will prove successful in getting vigorous reform under way.
We also wish to see if our efforts to support the desired reforms by providing funding from the Community budget prove successful.
The high price we need to pay for this will even lead to many Europeans not having a sense of victory when the project proves successful.
If the directive is to prove successful, it is important that the measures provided should have a clearly deterrent effect on counterfeiters and perpetrators of piracy.
In addition, if Investbx proves successful, similar projects in other parts of the Community would induce private sector interest and would not require public intervention.
This creates the scope for much more funding to go to programmes which prove successful.
In return, should you prove successful, we'll give you back your freedom.
Our own environmental ambitions cannot prove successful unless we can reach agreement on them with other key partners in the world.
With regard to the geopolitical picture, this will change considerably if Iceland's EU accession negotiations prove successful.
I hope that the amendments which have been tabled on this point will prove successful in tomorrow morning's vote.
Technical standards and market practices would also be harmonised to a large extent if a current plan to set up a Europe-wide platform for the clearing and settlement of securities transactions proves successful.
...that poor and mediocre pictures might just as well prove successful...
So let us help to ensure that the report on implementation, which the Commission is to put before Parliament in three years' time, proves successful.
Past attempts to discover who was responsible have failed time and time again, and I no longer have any confidence that such attempts will prove successful.
I hope that this example of a voluntary agreement between market participants and consumer associations will prove successful so that it can be extended to other areas of financial services.

Alternatives:

may prove successful
might prove successful
is likely to prove successful
has the potential to be successful
has a chance of success

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express the possibility of success with a slightly softer tone or when referring to a hypothetical situation.

"could prove successful"

This phrase is used to suggest a potential for success in a more tentative or hypothetical way. It often implies a lower level of certainty compared to "can prove successful."

Examples:

If implemented correctly, the new software could prove successful.
His innovative approach could prove successful in the long run.

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Your Rapporteur hopes that a sector-based legislation, covering only textile products, as proposed by Parliament in this regulation on textile labelling, could prove to be more successful in reaching an agreement between the two co-legislators.
I hope my investigations prove successful.
The EU's political credibility and competence must prove successful.
The geopolitical picture would change considerably if Iceland's EU accession negotiations prove successful.
If that proves successful, we have a chance to revitalise cross-border rail transport.
If this proves successful and if the first initiatives that are being launched prove successful, then we can go to the Member States to see whether there is a willingness to proceed further in the direction of greater integration of maritime affairs.
We therefore hope that the IGC will prove successful in getting vigorous reform under way.
We also wish to see if our efforts to support the desired reforms by providing funding from the Community budget prove successful.
The high price we need to pay for this will even lead to many Europeans not having a sense of victory when the project proves successful.
If the directive is to prove successful, it is important that the measures provided should have a clearly deterrent effect on counterfeiters and perpetrators of piracy.
In addition, if Investbx proves successful, similar projects in other parts of the Community would induce private sector interest and would not require public intervention.
This creates the scope for much more funding to go to programmes which prove successful.
In return, should you prove successful, we'll give you back your freedom.
Our own environmental ambitions cannot prove successful unless we can reach agreement on them with other key partners in the world.
With regard to the geopolitical picture, this will change considerably if Iceland's EU accession negotiations prove successful.
I hope that the amendments which have been tabled on this point will prove successful in tomorrow morning's vote.
Technical standards and market practices would also be harmonised to a large extent if a current plan to set up a Europe-wide platform for the clearing and settlement of securities transactions proves successful.
...that poor and mediocre pictures might just as well prove successful...
So let us help to ensure that the report on implementation, which the Commission is to put before Parliament in three years' time, proves successful.
Past attempts to discover who was responsible have failed time and time again, and I no longer have any confidence that such attempts will prove successful.

Alternatives:

may prove successful
might prove successful
is likely to prove successful
has the potential to be successful
has a chance of success

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can prove successful vs could prove successful