0
Everlastinghope Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Could nearly/was nearly able to
In English Grammar Book,"could nearly" in this example "I could nearly touch the ceiling",is explained as I almost/nearly didn't touch the ceiling.Does it mean that I succeeded in touching it just a little bit or I didn't succeed in touching it at all ?
Note,In this book,it's said that we would rather say could nearly touch the ceiling rather than was nearly able to touch the ceiling,is there any difference between these two sentences ?
Note,In this book,it's said that we would rather say could nearly touch the ceiling rather than was nearly able to touch the ceiling,is there any difference between these two sentences ?
Top answer
I think I disagree with that explanation. (I'd interpret it as "I could almost touch the ceiling"). With regard to your second question , "could" is better than able because "able" is more often used when speaking of our abilities.
- I think I disagree with that explanation.
- (I'd interpret it as "I could almost touch the ceiling").
- With regard to your second question , "could" is better than able because "able" is more often used when speaking of our abilities.
- You're speaking of a one-time action so "could" is more appropriate.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
5 Answers
0
I think I disagree with that explanation. (I'd interpret it as "I could almost touch the ceiling").
With regard to your second question , "could" is better than able because "able" is more often used when speaking of our abilities. You're speaking of a one-time action so "could" is more appropriate.
With regard to your second question , "could" is better than able because "able" is more often used when speaking of our abilities. You're speaking of a one-time action so "could" is more appropriate.
00
Ivanhr (I'd interpret it as "I could almost touch the ceiling").
If we say " I could almost touch the ceiling",does it mean that I succeeded in touching the ceiling ?
Ivanhr"could" is better than able because "able" is more often used when speaking of our abilities. You're speaking of a one-time action so "could" is more app
00
1. I could almost touch the ceiling. (I was close but didn't touch the ceiling.)
I guess that "could" refers to an ability there. Perhaps the context is
He was so tall that he could almost touch the ceiling. (this would denote an ability rather than an occasion when he reached for the ceiling). What I said in my previous post is partially wrong)
I guess that "could" refers to an ability there. Perhaps the context is
He was so tall that he could almost touch the ceiling. (this would denote an ability rather than an occasion when he reached for the ceiling). What I said in my previous post is partially wrong)
00
Sorry again,if we follow the Book's explanation " could nearly" means that you nearly didn't touch the ceiling",what do you understand here ?
00
The book seems to be saying that you touched the ceiling but I have my doubts about that.
0
Related Questions