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CppStudent Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Do you use "can" or "could" is this situation?

e.g. Someone asks you about a pass event and you think it was not that good
A: How was it?
B: Could be better.
or
B: Can be better.

It seems to me people use "Could be better" in this situation, but why can't you use "Can be better"?
What about (yeah, another question here, can I use "How about"?) if I want to say
B: Can be better next time. (when I am going to host the same event again in the future)

Do I still have to use "Could be better next time" because the question is referring to a pass event, even though I am thinking about a future instance of the same event?
In that case, will I have to say
A: How was it?
B: Could be better, but it can be better next time.

Thank you!!
  

Top answer

B: Could be better, but it can be better next time. Yes. Could for past events and can for present and future.

— Dave Phillips

  • B: Could be better, but it can be better next time.
  • Yes.
  • Could for past events and can for present and future.
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6 Answers
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cppStudentDo I still have to use "Could be better next time" because the question is referring to a pass event, even though I am thinking about a future instance of the same event?In that case, will I have to sayA: How was it?B: Could be better, but it can be better next time.
Yes. Could for past events and can for present and future.
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cppStudentDo I still have to use "Could be better next time" because the question is referring to a pass event, even though I am thinking about a future instance of the same event? Yes
Hi,
Consider this:
Your school basketball team was playing a game with a rival school yesterday. I happened to run into on th
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I'd use "could have been better" in that situation (for a past event , that is).
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Ivanhr "could have been better"
If the event was already concluded, "could have been better" would be incorrect in my opinion.
How is your married life?
"Could have been better" - In this context, I agree is better.
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Cheers everyone, but each of you are saying different things, I dont know which one is correct Emotion: sad
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cppStudentSomeone asks you about a pass event and you think it was not that goodA: How was it?
B: It could have been better.
cppStudentWhat about (yeah, another question here, can I use "How about"?) if I want to say
"how about" is better here.
cppStudentDo I still have to use "Could be better next t
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