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Liveinjapan Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

Did you see / were you able to see

Did you see a sunset yesterday?

Were you able to see a sunset yesterday?

Could you see a sunset yesterday?

Are all of them correct and carry about the same meaning?

I think the third sounds like a request.

Condition: Eeach of replies below can be used as answer to those questions if they carry about the same meaning.
"Yes, I could/did" or "No I couldn't because of a fog" or "No I didn't"

Thanks
LiJ
  

Top answer

the sunset No, I wouldn't say they were the same meaning. Did you - simply asking if the person saw it. )

— Nona the brit

  • the sunset No, I wouldn't say they were the same meaning.
  • Did you - simply asking if the person saw it.
  • )
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4 Answers
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the sunset

No, I wouldn't say they were the same meaning.

Did you - simply asking if the person saw it.

Were you able to/could you see - this suggests that the asker thinks there might be a reason why it was impossible for them to see the sunset (locked in a cellar?)
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People were able [possibility existed] to see the lunar eclipse in Seattle last night because there were not very many clouds. I saw it [made the attempt, successfully], but my neighbor wasn't able to get away from the tall buildings in her neighborhood [made the attempt, unsuccessfully].
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LiveinjapanDid you see a sunset yesterday?

Were you able to see a sunset yesterday?

Could you see a sunset yesterday?
I'd use the first or second, but not the third -- although the third is understandable and acceptable as well. The second and third give the impression that the speaker believes the listener may
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I understand this issue thanks to you all, Nona, Philip, and CJ.
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