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Tarkowsky Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

could have done/could do

Hi,

is there any difference between these two sentences?

1) I didn't think my parents could have done what they did.
2) I didn't think my parents could do what they did.

regards

Tarkowsky
  

Top answer

Hi, is there any difference between these two sentences? Because they already did it, you seem to be talking about a possible repetition of the act. I'd add the word 'again' to both sentences.

— Clive

  • Hi, is there any difference between these two sentences?
  • Because they already did it, you seem to be talking about a possible repetition of the act.
  • I'd add the word 'again' to both sentences.
  • There are various positions possible for the word.
  • 1) I didn't think my parents could again have done what they did.
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9 Answers
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Hi,

is there any difference between these two sentences? Because they already did it, you seem to be talking about a possible repetition of the act. I'd add the word 'again' to both sentences. There are various positions possible for the word.

1) I didn't think my parents could again have done what they did. You don't thi
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CliveHi,

is there any difference between these two sentences? Because they already did it, you seem to be talking about a possible repetition of the act. I'd add the word 'again' to both sentences. There are various positions possible for the word.

1) I didn't think my parents could again have do
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You have a problem with whether it actually happened or not. If you continue to say "I don't think they could have done it" but you also say that "they did it" then there is a conflict.

I don't think my parents could ever have done what people are saying that they did. (They did or didn't, but you don't think they did.)

I didn't think my parents could ever do what they did. (They
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Hope Clive will correct me about the following...

Then they'll have different meanings.

Tarkowsky:
«What about puting ever in?Does it make sense?»

If we turn back to the moment which you refer to:

1) I don't think they can do it
2) I don't think they could have done it.

Your sentences are derived from them by tense-shifting.

In other w
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Grammar GeekYou have a problem with whether it actually happened or not. If you continue to say "I don't think they could have done it" but you also say that "they did it" then there is a conflict.

I don't think my parents could ever have done what people are saying that they did. (They did or didn't, but you don't think they did.)

I didn't think my pare
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No, there's the same problem.

I don't think they could have done what they did.

If you believe they did it (and you must, because you use the phrase "they did") then you can be expressing you belief that they can't in the present.

Either you disbelief is in the past (I didn't think) because now you admit/know that they did it, or you need to quauntify "they did it" with
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Grammar GeekNo, there's the same problem.

I don't think they could have done what they did.

If you believe they did it (and you must, because you use the phrase "they did") then you can be expressing you belief that they can't in the present.

Either you disbelief is in the past (I didn't think) because now you admit/know that they did it, or you
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Hi,

present tense--I don't think they could have done what they did.

past tense--I didn't't think they could have done what they had done.

Do you know the expression 'You are tying yourself up in knots'? It means you are making things very confusing for yourself (as well as for us).
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CliveHi,

present tense--I don't think they could have done what they did.

past tense--I didn't't think they could have done what they had done.

Do you know the expression 'You are tying yourself up in knots'? It means you are making things very confusing for yourself (as well as for us).
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