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Nazanin saryazdi Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Could!

Michael Swan also said that for specific ability in past we can't use "could", we should say"managed to".
I have read a lot the opposite, such as:
I couldn't tolerate her, so I left the room. I didn't manage to tolerate her sounds funny...confused,...
  

Top answer

nazanin saryazdi I couldn't tolerate her, so I left the room. I couldn't tolerate her = I wasn't able to tolerate her Tolerating somebody is a process rather than a short action. Swan is probably referring to cases in which someone was successful in doing something on one particular occasion in the past.

— Ozzourti

  • nazanin saryazdi I couldn't tolerate her, so I left the room.
  • I couldn't tolerate her = I wasn't able to tolerate her Tolerating somebody is a process rather than a short action.
  • Swan is probably referring to cases in which someone was successful in doing something on one particular occasion in the past.
  • For example, "I could open the door" is ambiguous at best.
  • I could open the door (but I decided to keep it shut) .
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5 Answers
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nazanin saryazdiI couldn't tolerate her, so I left the room.
I couldn't tolerate her = I wasn't able to tolerate her

Tolerating somebody is a process rather than a short action.

Swan is probably referring to cases in which someone was successful in doing something on one particular occasion in the past.

For example, "I could o
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Could typically means the ability to. Usually when could is used in this context, it means at one time they were able to but now they can't.

Alternatively it means emotionally not able to. At that time they were not emotionally able to deal with something.
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An example "I couldn't walk any more because I broke my back."

vs.

I couldn't listen anymore because I was bored or not interested.
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We also use "was able to" for a successful past action:

I was alone in the small room. I could see the tops of trees out the window.
I couldn't open the door because it was locked. But I picked the lock with a small nail and then was able to open it.
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nazanin saryazdiMichael Swan also said that for specific ability in past we can't use "could", we should say"managed to".
It's not a specific ability; it's an action that we try to accomplish and succeed in accomplishing.

Because I ran very fast, I could catch the bus. < Wrong
Because I ran very fast, I was able to catch the b
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