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Snappy Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Could and Was/Were able to
Oxford Advanced Leaner's Dictionary says:
You use "was/were able to" or "manage" (but not "could") when you are saying that something was possible on a particular occasion in the past.
However, I often hear the following conversation.
"Thank you for inviting me over."
"I'm glad you could come."
May I understand that "I'm glad you could come" is acceptable because it is an idiomatic expression?
Is it strange to use "I'm glad you were able to come" in the above case?
What about the following sentence? Must I use "was able to" instead of "could"?
"I ran fast and I could catch the bus."
You use "was/were able to" or "manage" (but not "could") when you are saying that something was possible on a particular occasion in the past.
However, I often hear the following conversation.
"Thank you for inviting me over."
"I'm glad you could come."
May I understand that "I'm glad you could come" is acceptable because it is an idiomatic expression?
Is it strange to use "I'm glad you were able to come" in the above case?
What about the following sentence? Must I use "was able to" instead of "could"?
"I ran fast and I could catch the bus."
Top answer
"I ran fast and I could catch the bus" is not idiomatic. ) "I found that if I ran fast, I could catch the bus" is fine. "I ran fast so I could catch the bus" is fine.
- "I ran fast and I could catch the bus" is not idiomatic.
- ) "I found that if I ran fast, I could catch the bus" is fine.
- "I ran fast so I could catch the bus" is fine.
- "I ran fast in order to catch the bus" is fine.
- "I ran fast, and I was able to catch the bus" is fine.
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2 Answers
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"I ran fast and I could catch the bus" is not idiomatic. (It's not acceptable.)
"I found that if I ran fast, I could catch the bus" is fine.
"I ran fast so I could catch the bus" is fine.
"I ran fast in order to catch the bus" is fine.
"I ran fast, and I was able to catch the bus" is fine.
"I'm glad you could come" is fine.
"I'm glad you were able
"I found that if I ran fast, I could catch the bus" is fine.
"I ran fast so I could catch the bus" is fine.
"I ran fast in order to catch the bus" is fine.
"I ran fast, and I was able to catch the bus" is fine.
"I'm glad you could come" is fine.
"I'm glad you were able
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SnappyIs it strange to use "I'm glad you were able to come" in the above case?It is not strange at all. In fact, it means the same thing as the example with could.
This is a statement about the possibility of complying with the invitation (and therefore doing so in the present), not about a past success.
The situation that your
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