CAN'T OR COULDN'T
Hi everybody
I would like to ask about the use of CAN'T and COULDN'T
Here is a situation
The bell at the door is ringing.
1. It can't be my husband. He is at the office now
(Using " can't" means speaker sure 99% that it is not her husband at the door?
2. It couldn't be my husband. He is at the office now
(Using " could't " means speaker sure less than 99% that it is not her husband at the door?
Are these of my opinions in above brackets () correct?
"couldn't" is a weak form of "cant" for this situation like this?
Many thanks in advance
Top answer
LE HANH 2383 Are these of my opinions in above brackets () correct? Yes, that's a good interpretation, but of course we can't be sure about those percentages. If she's very sure, she can even say, "That won't be my husband".
- LE HANH 2383 Are these of my opinions in above brackets () correct?
- Yes, that's a good interpretation, but of course we can't be sure about those percentages.
- If she's very sure, she can even say, "That won't be my husband".
- However, the one with "couldn't" doesn't seem a very common thing to say.
- If someone is unsure, they are probably more likely to say, "I don't think it's my husband" or "I doubt it's my husband".
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LE HANH 2383Are these of my opinions in above brackets () correct?
Yes, that's a good interpretation, but of course we can't be sure about those percentages. If she's very sure, she can even say, "That won't be my husband".
However, the one with "couldn't" doesn't seem a very common thing to say. If someone is unsure, they are probably more likely
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