Can or could - Grammar
Could you tell - When should one use these statements ?
1. I can still hear his voice in my head.
2. I could still hear his voice in my head.
Thanks
Top answer
"Can" is a present tense modal auxiliary verb, so you would typically use 1. to express a present situation: you can hear his voice in your head now. By contrast, "could" is the preterite (past) form of "can", so you would typically use 2.
- "Can" is a present tense modal auxiliary verb, so you would typically use 1.
- to express a present situation: you can hear his voice in your head now.
- By contrast, "could" is the preterite (past) form of "can", so you would typically use 2.
- to express a past situation: you could hear his voice in your head at some time in the past.
- Subject to context, of course!
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"Can" is a present tense modal auxiliary verb, so you would typically use 1. to express a present situation: you can hear his voice in your head now.
By contrast, "could" is the preterite (past) form of "can", so you would typically use 2. to express a past situation: you could hear his voice in your head at some time in the past.
Subject to context, of course!
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