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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Can / could
"If you are not smart, you could not solve the problem".
I know "could" can be used for the past of "can" and for subjunctive mood, but I think the sentence above should be
"If you were not smart, you could not solve the problem", or
"If you are not smart, you can not solve the problem", Otherwise, present tense in if- clause can be written with could, would,etc?
What do you think? Please help me and thank you as usual in advance,
I know "could" can be used for the past of "can" and for subjunctive mood, but I think the sentence above should be
"If you were not smart, you could not solve the problem", or
"If you are not smart, you can not solve the problem", Otherwise, present tense in if- clause can be written with could, would,etc?
What do you think? Please help me and thank you as usual in advance,
Top answer
These are the two patterns you are interested in. IF present, present. IF past, WOULD.
- These are the two patterns you are interested in.
- IF present, present.
- IF past, WOULD.
- / IF past, COULD can is present, so it goes in the first pattern.
- _______________________________________________ The first pattern is: If you are not smart you cannot solve the problem.
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1 Answers
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These are the two patterns you are interested in.
IF present, present.
IF past, WOULD. / IF past, COULD
can is present, so it goes in the first pattern.
_______________________________________________
The first pattern is:
If you are not smart you cannot solve the problem.
The second pattern is:
If you were not s
IF present, present.
IF past, WOULD. / IF past, COULD
can is present, so it goes in the first pattern.
_______________________________________________
The first pattern is:
If you are not smart you cannot solve the problem.
The second pattern is:
If you were not s
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