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H M Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
could help and could have helped
Could you tell me the difference among sentences below??
1) He could help Tom
I think 1) has several meanings.
1)-1 He was able to help Tom
1)-2 He was able to help Tom but he didn't. So suggesting a feeling of blam on him.
1)-3 There is a possibility that he can help Tom(in a certain condition in the future or at present)
How about this one?
2) He could have helped Tom.
2)-1 He was able to help Tom but he didn't. So suggesting a feeling of blam on him.
Is there any other meaning regarding 2)?
When 1) means 1)-2, does 1) has the same meaning with/as 2)???
Thanks a lot!
1) He could help Tom
I think 1) has several meanings.
1)-1 He was able to help Tom
1)-2 He was able to help Tom but he didn't. So suggesting a feeling of blam on him.
1)-3 There is a possibility that he can help Tom(in a certain condition in the future or at present)
How about this one?
2) He could have helped Tom.
2)-1 He was able to help Tom but he didn't. So suggesting a feeling of blam on him.
Is there any other meaning regarding 2)?
When 1) means 1)-2, does 1) has the same meaning with/as 2)???
Thanks a lot!
Top answer
1) He could help Tom 1)-1 He was able to help Tom 1)-2 He is able to help Tom but he is not doing so . 1)-3 There is a possibility that he can help Tom (in a certain condition in the future or at present) Between #2 and #3, 'blame' is suggested only by the circumstances; it is not inherent in a different meaning of 'could'. 2) He could have helped Tom.
- 1) He could help Tom 1)-1 He was able to help Tom 1)-2 He is able to help Tom but he is not doing so .
- 1)-3 There is a possibility that he can help Tom (in a certain condition in the future or at present) Between #2 and #3, 'blame' is suggested only by the circumstances; it is not inherent in a different meaning of 'could'.
- 2) He could have helped Tom.
- 2)-1 He was able to help Tom but he didn't.
- -- Again, there is no necessary attachment of blame.
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3 Answers
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1) He could help Tom
1)-1 He was able to help Tom
1)-2 He is able to help Tom but he is not doing so.
1)-3 There is a possibility that he can help Tom (in a certain condition in the future or at present)
Between #2 and #3, 'blame' is suggested only by the circumstances; it is not inherent in a different meaning of 'could'.
1)-1 He was able to help Tom
1)-2 He is able to help Tom but he is not doing so.
1)-3 There is a possibility that he can help Tom (in a certain condition in the future or at present)
Between #2 and #3, 'blame' is suggested only by the circumstances; it is not inherent in a different meaning of 'could'.
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H M2) He could have helped Tom.It's possible, in the right context, that this could (!) mean: It is possible that he helped Tom
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Thanks a lot for your kind explanation!!!
It helps me a lot to understand!! :-)
It helps me a lot to understand!! :-)
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