He could be a thief. vs He can be a thief.

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'He could be a thief' implies a possibility or likelihood based on a condition or situation, while 'He can be a thief' suggests a general ability or capability. The choice between 'could' and 'can' depends on whether you are talking about a potential action based on circumstances or a general trait or capability.

Last updated: March 15, 2024 • 984 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express a possibility or likelihood based on a condition or situation.

"He could be a thief."

This phrase is used to suggest a potential action or behavior based on certain circumstances. It implies a likelihood or possibility.

Examples:

If he lost his job, he could be a thief.
With his background, he could be a thief.

Show examples from the web [+]

Dec 19, 2014 ... "But my son is my son, he could be a thief or whatever and I am never going to abandon him. I'll never turn my back on him." On Wednesday ...
Feb 14, 2015 ... We don't have to be on the hunt to kill him, he could be a thief or something, like he stole the Koh-i-Noor or something, and we go on a mission ...
Nov 25, 2012 ... The man I met on the beach yesterday seemed friendly, but he could be a thief, for all I know. For all I know, the girl was buried alive in the ...
“We said there is no way he could be a thief,” one neighbor recalled. “He's just like the rest of us.” A few months ago, while the 33-year-old Becker was still out on ...

Alternatives:

he might be a thief.
he may be a thief.
he is likely a thief.
he is possibly a thief.
he is probably a thief.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to suggest a general ability or capability.

"He can be a thief."

This phrase is used to indicate a general trait or capability of someone. It suggests that the person has the ability to act as a thief.

Examples:

He can be a thief if he wants to.
In certain situations, he can be a thief.

Show examples from the web [+]

Yes, you can indeed use a character that ordinarily we wouldn't like much. He can be a thief. She can be a hooker. The kid can be a racist. And by the end of the ...
When his patience wears out, however, he can be a thief, stealing household item such as towels or tools, and stashing them away. As some PON owners say, ...
Aug 11, 2014 ... He can be a thief but his message resonates with the people's expectations. of responsible and servitude leadership. What's wrong with a ...
He can be a thief because there are honest people. Because there are honest people and there are those who exploit these honest people, he can steal (from ...

Alternatives:

he is able to be a thief.
he has the capacity to be a thief.
he possesses the ability to be a thief.
he is capable of being a thief.
he has the potential to be a thief.

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He could be a thief. vs He can be a thief.