Ctrl key on Microsoft keyboard does not map to Mac's command
The Control key on your PC keyboard maps to your Mac's Control key.  The Windows key on your PC keyboard maps to your Mac's Command key.
When using a PC keyboard you would use windows keyC to copy and windows keyV to paste, etc.
You can set universal keyboard shortcuts in System Preferences &gt; Keyboard &gt; Keyboard Shortcuts &gt; Application Shortcuts &gt; All Applications, you can enter menu values (Save, Copy, Paste, etc) and then assign new key combinations to them.  In the example below I've set controlC to copy and controlU to paste.