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Teleostomi Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
Even if we use "could," would anyone think it wrong?
The fire spread through the house very quickly but everyone ____ get out.
A. could B. was able to
Which one to choose?
I guess "was able to" would be better in order to clearly mean that everyone managed to escape.
But even if we use "could," no one would think that "someone failed to escape." What do you think?
A. could B. was able to
Which one to choose?
I guess "was able to" would be better in order to clearly mean that everyone managed to escape.
But even if we use "could," no one would think that "someone failed to escape." What do you think?
Top answer
Teleostomi The fire spread through the house very quickly but everyone ____ get out. A. could B.
- Teleostomi The fire spread through the house very quickly but everyone ____ get out.
- A.
- could B.
- was able to Which one to choose?
- I guess "was able to" would be better in order to clearly mean that everyone managed to escape.
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2 Answers
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TeleostomiThe fire spread through the house very quickly but everyone ____ get out.
A. could B. was able to
Which one to choose?
I guess "was able to" would be better in order to clearly mean that everyone managed to escape.
But even if we use "could," no one would think that "someone faile
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You absolutely cannot choose could there.
The correct answer is was able to.
could cannot be used when it means succeeded in ....
However, could not (couldn't) can be used when it means failure.
Palmer (The English Verb, 1988) gives the following example.
*I ran fast, and could catch the bus.
I ran fast, b
The correct answer is was able to.
could cannot be used when it means succeeded in ....
However, could not (couldn't) can be used when it means failure.
Palmer (The English Verb, 1988) gives the following example.
*I ran fast, and could catch the bus.
I ran fast, b
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