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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
Could to denote past ability
Hi,
Can we use the modal verb 'could' to denote past ability, eventhough I think we can't use it to denote present ability?
1. Joe could lift this weight when he was young/thirteen years old/by the time he became thirteen years old.
2. Joe: I can lift this anytime.
Reported Speech: Joe said that he could lift that anytime that time.-- When you revert the above into reported speech the 'could' now denotes past ability (as should be as the past of 'can'?)?
Can we use the modal verb 'could' to denote past ability, eventhough I think we can't use it to denote present ability?
1. Joe could lift this weight when he was young/thirteen years old/by the time he became thirteen years old.
2. Joe: I can lift this anytime.
Reported Speech: Joe said that he could lift that anytime that time.-- When you revert the above into reported speech the 'could' now denotes past ability (as should be as the past of 'can'?)?
Top answer
Yes, could is also the past of can (ability).
- Yes, could is also the past of can (ability).
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