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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
"can" and "could"
1. How can / could you say such a thing?
2. How can / could you do this to me?
3. How can / could I work with all this noise going on?
4. How can / could this be?
5. How can / could I possibly refuse such a charming invitation?
6. Who can / could be phoning us a this time of night?
Suppose they all refer to the present,
what's the difference between 'can' and 'could' in the sentences above?
7. What can / could have happened to them?
8. Surely he can't / couldn't have forgotten about the wedding!
If these two sentences refer to the past,
what's the difference between 'can' and 'could'?
2. How can / could you do this to me?
3. How can / could I work with all this noise going on?
4. How can / could this be?
5. How can / could I possibly refuse such a charming invitation?
6. Who can / could be phoning us a this time of night?
Suppose they all refer to the present,
what's the difference between 'can' and 'could' in the sentences above?
7. What can / could have happened to them?
8. Surely he can't / couldn't have forgotten about the wedding!
If these two sentences refer to the past,
what's the difference between 'can' and 'could'?
Top answer
Anonymous Suppose they all refer to the present,what's the difference between 'can' and 'could' in the sentences above? (1 - 6) 'can' ~ is possible; is able/capable 'could' ~ would be possible; would be able/capable Sample paraphrases: How can you do this to me? ~ How is it possible for you to do this to me?
- Anonymous Suppose they all refer to the present,what's the difference between 'can' and 'could' in the sentences above?
- (1 - 6) 'can' ~ is possible; is able/capable 'could' ~ would be possible; would be able/capable Sample paraphrases: How can you do this to me?
- ~ How is it possible for you to do this to me?
- ~ How is it that you are capable of doing this to me?
- How could you do this to me?
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1 Answers
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AnonymousSuppose they all refer to the present,what's the difference between 'can' and 'could' in the sentences above? (1 - 6)'can' ~ is possible; is able/capable
'could' ~ would be possible; would be able/capable
Sample paraphrases:
How can you do this to me? ~ How is it possible for you to do this to me? ~ How is it that you are capabl
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