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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Could/could have

How could this have happened to me?
How could this happen to me?

Why can't we use the second one to ask a question about the past?
  

Top answer

Anonymous Why can't we use the second one to ask a question about the past? Simply because it is ambiguous as to what time it might refer to.

— Mister Micawber

  • Anonymous Why can't we use the second one to ask a question about the past?
  • Simply because it is ambiguous as to what time it might refer to.
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3 Answers
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AnonymousWhy can't we use the second one to ask a question about the past?
Simply because it is ambiguous as to what time it might refer to.
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So you've never used it to ask a question about the past?
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Not if I was clearly referring to the past.
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