Can and Could- Understanding
Could you tell whether my understanding is correct ?
1. I apologise to my entire team. There is no excuse I could come up with to justify my actions.
This one is related to hypothetical scenario. Am I right ?
2. I apologise to my entire team. There is no excuse I can come up with to justify my actions.
This one is more realistic than the former.
Thanks
Top answer
The first one sounds more like a past tense than like a hypothetical. ) It also seems somewhat unidiomatic. Realistically, such an apology would take only the form of the second example.
- The first one sounds more like a past tense than like a hypothetical.
- ) It also seems somewhat unidiomatic.
- Realistically, such an apology would take only the form of the second example.
- I think you need something more like this to contrast 'can' with 'could': I can do this differently if you like.
- I could do this differently if you like.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
The first one sounds more like a past tense than like a hypothetical. (It's the context that influences this interpretation.) It also seems somewhat unidiomatic. Realistically, such an apology would take only the form of the second example.
I think you need something more like this to contrast 'can' with 'could':
I can do this differently if you like.
I could
0
Related Questions