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PreciousJones Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Could

Hi,

My car seats 5, but it could fit 6.

Is could used correctly here?
  

Top answer

Yes, that's fine. Here, the modal auxiliary verb could has a remote conditional meaning where the condition is implicit - in this case it's inferrable from the context: but it could fit six is interpreted as something like "but it could fit 6 if we all squeezed up", or "but it could fit six if Tina sits on Ed's lap". BillJ

— BillJ

  • Yes, that's fine.
  • Here, the modal auxiliary verb could has a remote conditional meaning where the condition is implicit - in this case it's inferrable from the context: but it could fit six is interpreted as something like "but it could fit 6 if we all squeezed up", or "but it could fit six if Tina sits on Ed's lap".
  • BillJ
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1 Answers
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Yes, that's fine. Here, the modal auxiliary verb could has a remote conditional meaning where the condition is implicit - in this case it's inferrable from the context: but it could fit six is interpreted as something like "but it could fit 6 if we all squeezed up", or "but it could fit six if Tina sits on Ed's lap".

BillJ
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