0
Marold Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Could have asked or Could ask

In this particular case, why has Rowling decided to write the sentence this way:

"What a day! Could we have asked for more perfect weather? A cloudless night coming..."
=> Sounds better to me, but I have no justification for writing it this way when comparing to the sentence below.

Why not?: "What a day! Could we ask for more perfect weather? A cloudless night coming..."

Thanks a lot.
  

Top answer

' is said when the main events of the day are over. ' Could we ask. ' is said when they are still being enjoyed.

— Rover_KE

  • ' is said when the main events of the day are over.
  • ' Could we ask.
  • ' is said when they are still being enjoyed.
  • Rover
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

4 Answers
0
'Could we have asked for more perfect weather?' is said when the main events of the day are over.

'Could we ask. . .' is said when they are still being enjoyed.

Rover
0
0
You do not provide enough context. Is the day over?
0
0
Well, I am not sure. The text was taken from the book Harry Potter, which I am reading at the moment. If I take a closer look at the context, in my opinion, the main events of the day are over, as Rover has already suggested as one possibility. Then, I'd therefore incline more to that.

So, let's assume it is already an evening of the day when the sentence is uttered. Would it be then the
0
0
Yes, because it is about the day's weather, which is in the past.
0

Related Questions