Can Vs Could
Dear teachers,
I have a question concerning the use of the modal verbs "can" and "could":
1. Sometimes, one can find people like him in a country like ours.
2. Sometimes, one could find people like him in a country like ours.
Am I right to say that compared to sentence 1, where the assertion of an observation is more certain, the speaker in sentence 2 is tentative and uncertain?
Thank you.
Top answer
Selvakumar Am I right to say that compared to sentence 1, where the assertion of an observation is more certain, the speaker in sentence 2 is tentative and uncertain? ', in other words a contrast between present time and past time. CJ
- Selvakumar Am I right to say that compared to sentence 1, where the assertion of an observation is more certain, the speaker in sentence 2 is tentative and uncertain?
- ', in other words a contrast between present time and past time.
- CJ
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SelvakumarAm I right to say that compared to sentence 1, where the assertion of an observation is more certain, the speaker in sentence 2 is tentative and uncertain?
I hear it only as a contrast between 'one is able to find people ...' and 'one was able to find people ...', in other words a contrast between present time and past time.
CJ
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