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Teleostomi Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

COULD or WERE ABLE TO?

Guest: Would it be possible for you to make a hotel reservation for me?
Hotel Clerk: Actually, we've already done that for you. Fortunately, we ( ) get you your usual room.

Which would it be appropriate for the blank, "could" or "were able to"?

Is there any difference in meaning between the two?
  

Top answer

were able to is the more elegant we were in a position/capable to make that

— Marius Hancu

  • were able to is the more elegant we were in a position/capable to make that
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5 Answers
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were able to
is the more elegant
we were in a position/capable to make that
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Thank you, Mari!

But "could" is not altogether wrong in that context, is it?
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"Could" makes it sound like it didn't happen. It's still possible, but it hasn't happened. Since the clerk said he had already made the reservation, "could" doesn't sound right, to me.
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Grammar Geek"Could" makes it sound like it didn't happen. It's still possible, but it hasn't happened. Since the clerk said he had already made the reservation, "could" doesn't sound right, to me.

That might be the case in many situations, but it doesn't seem to be in these examples (esp the 2nd):


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Actually, we've already done that for you. Fortunately, we ( ) get you your usual room.
Which would it be appropriate for the blank, "could" or "were able to"? Is there any difference in meaning between the two?

were able

The peculiarity of could is that it cannot be used in the meaning succeeded (in) ... (or
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