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Hirashin Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

can mean, could mean, or could have meant?

Which would be suitable in the blank, can mean, could mean, or could have meant?

Jason isn't at work today. It ____ that he's sick again.

Thanks in advance.

Hirashin
  

Top answer

"Could mean" is best, to express some probability of illness, which is what you'd expect when speculating about Jason's absence because he's been ill before. "Can mean" says that it's physically possible for Jason to be ill, but that's true of everyone. Given that both Jason's absence and our speculation is happening today, "could have meant," past, is the wrong tense.

— Deadrat

  • "Could mean" is best, to express some probability of illness, which is what you'd expect when speculating about Jason's absence because he's been ill before.
  • "Can mean" says that it's physically possible for Jason to be ill, but that's true of everyone.
  • Given that both Jason's absence and our speculation is happening today, "could have meant," past, is the wrong tense.
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2 Answers
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"Could mean" is best, to express some probability of illness, which is what you'd expect when speculating about Jason's absence because he's been ill before.

"Can mean" says that it's physically possible for Jason to be ill, but that's true of everyone.

Given that both Jason's absence and our speculation is happening today, "could have meant," past, is the wrong tense.
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Thanks for the help, Deadrat.

The difference between "can" and "could" in this case seems so difficult to me. [or should I say "for me"?]
I'll try to understand what you say. Thanks.

Hirashin
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