0
LeGion12359 Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Conversation.

Tom: He grabbed my neck. What would have I done/ What could I do? I was suffocating.
Clarke: Yes, you could do nothing.
Is the above conversation grammatical? Especially the 'what would have I done' part?
  

Top answer

Tom: He grabbed my neck. What could I have done / What could I do? I was suffocating.

— Mister Micawber

  • Tom: He grabbed my neck.
  • What could I have done / What could I do?
  • I was suffocating.
  • Clarke: Yes, you could do nothing.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

8 Answers
0
Tom: He grabbed my neck. What could I have done / What could I do? I was suffocating.
Clarke: Yes, you could do nothing.
0
0
Mister MicawberTom: He grabbed my neck. What could I have done / What could I do? I was suffocating.Clarke: Yes, you could do nothing.
Why I can't say 'What would I have done'? What is 'what could I have done' representing?
0
0
LeGion12359Why I can't say 'What would I have done'?
It is saying the wrong thing—the problem seems to be what you could have done (were able to do), not what you might have done.
0
0
Mister MicawberIt is saying the wrong thing—the problem seems to be what you could have done (were able to do), not what you might have done.
Hmm, all right. By the way, what's the difference between 'what could I have done' and 'what could I do?
My guess: Both are taking about the ability of Tom at that time. However, 'what could I have done',in addition
0
0
LeGion12359r, 'what could I have done',in addition to that,is also talking about the possibilities Tom had at that time. Am I correct?
No, of course not—it says nothing about the other person.
LeGion12359'what could I have done?'
That asks from the viewpoint of now into the past.
LeGion12359what could
0
0
Mister MicawberNo, of course not—it says nothing about the other person.
Sorry, but you got me wrong,sir. I was not talking about the other person, despite that I was talking about Tom. I think he was out of possibilities in that miserable situation.
'What could I have done?' shows logical impossibility for Tom in that situation. Did you get
0
0
LeGion12359t you got me wrong,sir.
Yes, sorry—I thought 'Tom' was the other person.
LeGion12359'What could I have done?' shows logical impossibility for Tom in that situation. Did you get me now?
Yes, or physical impossibility.
0
0
Mister MicawberYes, sorry—I thought 'Tom' was the other person.
It's OK.Emotion: smile
Miste
0

Related Questions