How could you go to the party without me yesterday?
I've read on the internet that the phrases "how could someone" and "why would someone" are used in reference to past events. However, nowhere have I seen them used with past time adverbs. So my question is: are these sentences correct with "yesterday"? Or "could"/"would" sounds odd with "yesterday"?
1) How could you go to the party without me yesterday?
2) Why would you go to the party without me yesterday?
Top answer
You can add 'yesterday' if you want, but it removes the generic nature of that sort of statement. Without adverbs of time, the idea is How could you ever do such a thing (at any time)? Why would you ever do such thing (at any time)?
- You can add 'yesterday' if you want, but it removes the generic nature of that sort of statement.
- Without adverbs of time, the idea is How could you ever do such a thing (at any time)?
- Why would you ever do such thing (at any time)?
- In a "real life" conversation it would be clear from context what action is being referred to, so both parties in the conversation would already know when the action took place.
- For this reason it is not usual to add an adverb of time.
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You can add 'yesterday' if you want, but it removes the generic nature of that sort of statement. Without adverbs of time, the idea is
How could you ever do such a thing (at any time)?
Why would you ever do such thing (at any time)?
In a "real life" conversation it would be clear from context what action is being referred to, so both parties in the conversation would already
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