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Wolf2k Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Could vs Would

Hello my friends,

I am fighting with a sentence here.

“Could the storm have caused the blackout?”

or

“Would the storm have caused the blackout?”





Or should I go in the present form



“Could the storm cause the blackout?”



or



“Would the storm cause the blackout?”





I think it should be have caused, but not sure if I should use could of would.



Thanks!



  

Top answer

” Either can be correct depending on the context. ” It's hard to see how these could be correct regardless of context. If you want additional advice post your context.

— RayH

  • ” Either can be correct depending on the context.
  • ” It's hard to see how these could be correct regardless of context.
  • If you want additional advice post your context.
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3 Answers
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wolf2k“Could the storm have caused the blackout?”

or

“Would the storm have caused the blackout?”
Either can be correct depending on the context.
wolf2k“Could the storm cause the blackout?”

or

“Would the storm cause the blackout?”
It's hard to see how these could be correct re
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0
I can only assume that the storm and the blackout actually occurred.
____________

[Could / Would] the storm cause the blackout?

This is similar to Was the storm [able / going] to cause the blackout?
This is a speculation at the time of the storm, asking if it had the potential to (could) or if it actually was going to (would) cause the
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0
wolf2k“Could the storm have caused the blackout?”
or
“Would the storm have caused the blackout?”
Or should I go in the present form
“Could the storm cause the blackout?”
or
“Would the storm cause the blackout?”
I think it should be have caused, but not sure if I should use could of would.
"Could the storm have cause the blackout
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