Could
I copied the text below from another forum. I don't understand how we can use "could" for a specific possibility in the past. We can just use "could" for general possibility in the past. Can you please explain?
"I found it could be a solution.
The finding is in the past, but the existence of the potential solution is in the present and future, as well as the past."Top answer
Tara2 I found it could be a solution. ~ I found that it had the potential to be a solution. The sentence is saying that maybe "it" [ was/is/will be ] a solution (to some problem, presumably).
- Tara2 I found it could be a solution.
- ~ I found that it had the potential to be a solution.
- The sentence is saying that maybe "it" [ was/is/will be ] a solution (to some problem, presumably).
- The potential to be a solution does not go away until someone proves either that "it" is not a solution or that "it" really is a solution.
- "could be" marks the first point in time (the past) that this potential was recognized.
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Tara2I found it could be a solution.
~ I found that it had the potential to be a solution.
The sentence is saying that maybe "it" [ was/is/will be ] a solution (to some problem, presumably).
The potential to be a solution does not go away until someone proves either that "it" is not a solution or that "it" really is a solution. "c
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