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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Could in present tense

Hello,

Can we use could in present tense, like we use would. I suppose that would be alright. I am hoping you could do that.

Some people say only 'can' is appropriate because 'I am hoping' is present tense. I wonder why... couldn't could in this instance also mean 'would be able to' instead of the past tense of can? I am hoping you'd be able to/could do that.

Mr. X
  

Top answer

Anonymous Some people say only 'can' is appropriate because 'I am hoping' is present tense. Yes. I am one of those people.

— CalifJim

  • Anonymous Some people say only 'can' is appropriate because 'I am hoping' is present tense.
  • Yes.
  • I am one of those people.
  • Anonymous I wonder why...
  • couldn't 'could' in this instance also mean 'would be able to' instead of the past tense of 'can'?
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2 Answers
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AnonymousSome people say only 'can' is appropriate because 'I am hoping' is present tense.
Yes. I am one of those people.
AnonymousI wonder why... couldn't 'could' in this instance also mean 'would be able to' instead of the past tense of 'can'?
'could' does mean 'would be able to' in this instance. The problem is t
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Thanks, Jim.
CalifJim
AnonymousI wonder why... couldn't 'could' in this instance also mean 'would be able to' instead of the past tense of 'can'?
'could' does mean 'would be able to' in this instance. The problem is that after the verb 'hope' (in the present tense), neither 'would' nor 'could' is possible. You need 'will' and 'can'. (
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