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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Can't vs couldn't

Alex: where is Jack?
Rock: he is in his office.
Martinez: he can't be in his office. Or he couldn't be in his office. I just saw him at the mall.

What's the difference in meaning between can't and couldn't? Are the exchangeable here? Please explain.
  

Top answer

What Martinez is saying is that… Because he just saw Jack at the mall, it is not possible for him to already be in his office. His reasoning is not made clear, but the assumption is that the time it would have taken Jack to reach his office is longer than has elapsed since he saw Jack. I believe “couldn’t” is required here – He could not have arrived before me.

— Wilpeter

  • What Martinez is saying is that… Because he just saw Jack at the mall, it is not possible for him to already be in his office.
  • His reasoning is not made clear, but the assumption is that the time it would have taken Jack to reach his office is longer than has elapsed since he saw Jack.
  • I believe “couldn’t” is required here – He could not have arrived before me.
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1 Answers
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What Martinez is saying is that…
Because he just saw Jack at the mall, it is not possible for him to already be in his office. His reasoning is not made clear, but the assumption is that the time it would have taken Jack to reach his office is longer than has elapsed since he saw Jack.
I believe “couldn’t” is required here – He could not have arrived before me.
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