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PreciousJones Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Could

My friend was telling me about a contract he has with his customer. I say:

Can you renege the contract? Or should it be:

Could you renege the contract?

It's different from the previous posts, because this time I'm using it in a question form, so it's more confusing to me.

If I use could it sounds like I'm asking a question and making a suggestion at the same time. But

Can or can't sounds more like a direct question and straight to the point.

Is this so?
  

Top answer

Either "can" or "could" is fine. The correct use of "renege" in this context is "renege on" but be sure that's what you mean. Reneging on a contract can have fairly serious consequences.

  • Either "can" or "could" is fine.
  • The correct use of "renege" in this context is "renege on" but be sure that's what you mean.
  • Reneging on a contract can have fairly serious consequences.
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1 Answers
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Either "can" or "could" is fine. The correct use of "renege" in this context is "renege on" but be sure that's what you mean. Reneging on a contract can have fairly serious consequences.

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