could have existed back then ?

Question

"I’ve lately been to a historic village that has been recently discovered in the western region of my country. It is believed that this village dates back to about three thousand years ago. The houses in the village looked really old, but I could feel the people who lived them. The streets in the village were wide and unpaved. Every street eventually leads to a dead-end. That was so strange for me. There was an amazing square in the village which I thought couldn’t have existed back then, but my friend told me this place was the market place for the village. Then we went to see the excavated findings. There were all sorts of pots, bowls, spoons, and other stuff."

Hello All,
The context was extracted from my teacher's book. speaking IELST test about " historic monument in your country".I want to know that:
1: "I could feel.." means: give you a particular feeling or impression?
2: what does 'which I thought couldn’t have existed back then" mean?!

Thanks.

Teechr · Accepted Answer

Mickey Mouse 8241I could feel

This is figurative and imaginative, not literal. It means: "I could sense the presence of the people who lived in those houses."

Mickey Mouse 8241which I thought couldn’t have existed back then

It means that I thought it was impossible for such a square to exist at that time.

Mickey Mouse 8241 · Answer

Thanks so much for your great and informative help. I also use your sentence for my exam, as it was so perfect.
I could sense the presence of the people who lived in those houses.

Thanks again.

could have existed back then ?

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions