It could be very cold in winter. vs It can be very cold.

The phrases are both acceptable, but they would be used in dissimilar contexts. 'It could be very cold in winter' implies a possibility or likelihood of cold weather specifically in winter. 'It can be very cold' is a more general statement about the potential for cold weather at any time. They are comparable but have nuanced differences in meaning.

Explained by Gregg
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: February 09, 2025 • 6146 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used to express the possibility or likelihood of cold weather in winter.

"It could be very cold in winter."

This phrase is used to talk about the potential for cold weather specifically in the winter season.

Examples:

It could be very cold in winter, so make sure to bundle up.
In this region, it could be very cold in winter due to the high altitude.
It could be very cold in winter, but sometimes we get lucky with milder temperatures.
She always prepares for the worst because it could be very cold in winter.
It could be very cold in winter, so we need to check the heating system.

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: November 29, 2024

Aug 18, 2014 ... Being a young Pascoe, life was tough as it could be very cold in winter with no central heating or any carpets outside of the drawing room.
May 29, 2014 ... We use 'could' as the past tense of can. Example: It could be very cold in winter. (=Sometimes it was very cold in winter.) (Possibility). We ...
... It could be very cold in winter. (=Sometimes it was very cold in winter ... (= People often lose their way in the dark) We use could as the past tense of can: It ...
Jan 19, 2015 ... The downside point is, it could be very cold in winter, the bed is just under the window so you can feel the wind on the top of your head.
May 19, 2020 ... It could be very cold in winter. (Sometimes it was very cold in winter.) You could lose your way in the dark. (People often lost their way ...
The 1944 Education Act gave every child a free education to the age of 15. This was later raised to 16 in 1973. In school it could be very cold in winter.
Jan 2, 2020 ... It could be very cold in winter. (Sometimes it was very cold in winter.) You could lose your way in the dark. (People often lost their way ...
Dec 5, 2018 ... It could be very cold in winter. (Sometimes it was very cold in winter.) You could lose your way in the dark. (People often lost their way ...
Mar 12, 2016 ... We use the modal could as the past tense of can: It could be very cold in winter. (= Sometimes it was very cold in winter.) You could lose your ...

Alternatives:

It might be very cold in winter.
It is likely to be very cold in winter.
It may be very cold in winter.
It is possible that it will be very cold in winter.
It is probable that it will be very cold in winter.

This phrase is correct and commonly used to express the general potential for cold weather.

"It can be very cold."

This phrase is used to talk about the possibility of cold weather without specifying a particular season.

Examples:

It can be very cold in this part of the country.
During the rainy season, it can be very cold in the evenings.
Depending on the altitude, it can be very cold at night.
In some regions, it can be very cold even in summer.
When the wind blows, it can be very cold outside.

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: November 29, 2024

Nov 20, 2024 ... I was on the lookout for an instrument that I could play outside with or indoors (church where it can be very cold) to avoid possible damage ...
Nov 8, 2022 ... I'm looking to buy a resin printer, but I can only put it into my garage, where it can be very cold in the winters. Is that an issue?
Jan 13, 2010 ... Winter time climbing can happen there, but it can be very cold. I believe I'd search out warmer stuff! 0. Flag. Quote · Caleb BR · Feb 13, 2020 ...
Sep 26, 2015 ... @Brian Donovan : As you say 'can' expresses uncertainty, so does it mean that in the sentence 'It can be very cold in winter' ,there are some ...
Sep 25, 2016 ... Seat Guru says it can be very cold. OK, so I realize this is very subjective, but - very cold? or just chilly? we can grab blankets... any ...
Aug 5, 2021 ... In the Arctic, January is a time of renewal as the sun reappears above the horizon but it can be very, cold. Aurora might more likely appear ...
Sep 16, 2010 ... The weather in January is unpredictable. It can be very cold, it can rain for days on end, or it can be bright and sunny (although still chilly).
May 3, 2023 ... None of them fit this context. It can be very cold in Russia in winter, so I decided not to go there. I prefer: Russia can be very cold in ...
Jul 18, 2011 ... Early Dec. and any time in Sept. after the 4th is quite pricey for hotels. While there's nothing like NYC at Xmas time, it can be very cold and ...
May 13, 2014 ... The tradeoff is that it can be very cold. But get a few days of warm weather and beaches are empty, there are no lines and traffic is sparse ...

Alternatives:

It may be very cold.
It is possible that it will be very cold.
It is likely to be very cold.
It might be very cold.
It is probable that it will be very cold.

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It could be very cold in winter. vs It can be very cold.

"It could be very cold in winter."

"It can be very cold."

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