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Norwolf Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Couldn't probably?

Hello, teachers.



The below were taken from COCA or BNC. But I don’t think they are good English. What do you think?

We could n't probably bring you every single story, but this one says it all.

she could n't probably ever live on her own.

In fact, he was strapped into a wheelchair with a strap around his waist, and, in his condition, he could n't probably even have untied it.





I’d thank you very much, please.
  

Top answer

norwolf I don’t think they are good English. What do you think? I would never use them.

— CalifJim

  • norwolf I don’t think they are good English.
  • What do you think?
  • I would never use them.
  • The way I hear English used, that word order is used for "possibly", not "probably": probably couldn't and couldn't possibly Why are those examples displayed with a space in couldn't ?
  • could n't instead of couldn't .
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3 Answers
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norwolf I don’t think they are good English. What do you think?
I would never use them. The way I hear English used, that word order is used for "possibly", not "probably":

probably couldn't
and
couldn't possibly

Why are those examples displayed with a space in couldn't? could n't instead of couldn't
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CalifJimWhy are those examples displayed with a space in couldn't? could n't instead of couldn't.


Well, COCA and BNC treat couldn't as two words----could and n't. So when we search for such information, we must copy could n't instead of couldn't.

Did you want to have a try, CalifJim? H
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norwolfCOCA and BNC treat couldn't as two words
Ah! That's what I thought.

CJ
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