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Reegis Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
"Could be anybody" or "Could have been anybody"
Hello,
I am wondering which of the following sentences is correct:
I didn't see his face, it could be anybody.
I didn't see his face, it could have been anybody.
I know general rules (at least I think I know), I read an excellent explanation by CalifJim of similar issue in this topic:
Yet somehow I cannot figure out how to use this knowledge to the case above.
Do we have circumstantial possibility here? Or maybe logical possibility? If yes, then what uncertainty is here exactly? That this person is 'anybody' or maybe is not 'anybody'?
Thanks in advance for your help.
I am wondering which of the following sentences is correct:
I didn't see his face, it could be anybody.
I didn't see his face, it could have been anybody.
I know general rules (at least I think I know), I read an excellent explanation by CalifJim of similar issue in this topic:
Yet somehow I cannot figure out how to use this knowledge to the case above.
Do we have circumstantial possibility here? Or maybe logical possibility? If yes, then what uncertainty is here exactly? That this person is 'anybody' or maybe is not 'anybody'?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Top answer
Both sentences have comma splice errors. They should not have commas. There are two independent clauses with no conjunction.
- Both sentences have comma splice errors.
- They should not have commas.
- There are two independent clauses with no conjunction.
- Both sentences are acceptable and not appreciatively different in meaning.
- The first one might be used more for something that was very recent, while the second could refer to something a bit more in the past, but really, the sentences are interchangeable.
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3 Answers
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Both sentences have comma splice errors. They should not have commas. There are two independent clauses with no conjunction.
Both sentences are acceptable and not appreciatively different in meaning. The first one might be used more for something that was very recent, while the second could refer to something a bit more in the past, but really, the sentences are interchangeable. A lot de
Both sentences are acceptable and not appreciatively different in meaning. The first one might be used more for something that was very recent, while the second could refer to something a bit more in the past, but really, the sentences are interchangeable. A lot de
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ReegisDo we have circumstantial possibility here?No. That idea is not likely to be interpreted as circumstantial possibility. It doesn't even make sense to talk in terms of "it certainly was anybody". "anybody" already makes this a case of uncertainty.
ReegisOr maybe logical possibility?Exactly. The idea is that we
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