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Sun 94 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Could
I am very confused about the usage of the modal verb ' could'. I wrote the way I understood each sentence.( Underlined parrts) Is it correct?
Who stole the money?
John couldn't be the one.( it is not possible John is the one who stole the money, but at the same time it is possible for him to have stolen the money)
John can't be the one.( It is impossible John is the one who stole the money)
John could have stolen the money.( It was possible John was the one who stole the money)
John could not have stolen the money.( It was impossible John was the one who stole the money)
Who stole the money?
John couldn't be the one.( it is not possible John is the one who stole the money, but at the same time it is possible for him to have stolen the money)
John can't be the one.( It is impossible John is the one who stole the money)
John could have stolen the money.( It was possible John was the one who stole the money)
John could not have stolen the money.( It was impossible John was the one who stole the money)
Top answer
Who stole the money? ( it is not possible John is the one who stole the money, but at the same time it is possible for him to have stolen the money) More or less. It's almost the same as the next one.
- Who stole the money?
- ( it is not possible John is the one who stole the money, but at the same time it is possible for him to have stolen the money) More or less.
- It's almost the same as the next one.
- ( It is impossible John is the one who stole the money) Right.
- ( It was possible John was the one who stole the money) Right.
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2 Answers
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Who stole the money?
John couldn't be the one.( it is not possible John is the one who stole the money, but at the same time it is possible for him to have stolen the money) More or less. It's almost the same as the next one.
John can't be the one.( It is impossible John is the one who stole the money)
John couldn't be the one.( it is not possible John is the one who stole the money, but at the same time it is possible for him to have stolen the money) More or less. It's almost the same as the next one.
John can't be the one.( It is impossible John is the one who stole the money)
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