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Eng.noob Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
Identify the subtlity b/w "Could have come" and "Would have come"
Please tell me the difference b/w the two giving Simple examples. I have already been through the related STICKY (http://www.EnglishForward.com/English/Post/lxw/Post.htm) but i am still in doubt..
a)he could have come
b)he would have come
c)I could go
d)I would go
Is it that "would have" is conditional while "could have" is not?
-thanks.
a)he could have come
b)he would have come
c)I could go
d)I would go
Is it that "would have" is conditional while "could have" is not?
-thanks.
Top answer
No, both can be conditional: If I were dressed, I could go. If I wanted to, I would go. Could expresses ability/possibility; would expresses volition.
- No, both can be conditional: If I were dressed, I could go.
- If I wanted to, I would go.
- Could expresses ability/possibility; would expresses volition.
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2 Answers
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No, both can be conditional:
If I were dressed, I could go.
If I wanted to, I would go.
Could expresses ability/possibility; would expresses volition.
If I were dressed, I could go.
If I wanted to, I would go.
Could expresses ability/possibility; would expresses volition.
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He would (definitely) have come (if the conditions had been right).
He could have come. ~ He would have been able to come. / He was able to come. / Maybe he came.
(It depends on context.)
I would (definitely) go (if the conditions were right). / ~ I used to go.
(It depends on context.)
I could go. ~ It's possible that I will go. / I may go. / I might go.
He could have come. ~ He would have been able to come. / He was able to come. / Maybe he came.
(It depends on context.)
I would (definitely) go (if the conditions were right). / ~ I used to go.
(It depends on context.)
I could go. ~ It's possible that I will go. / I may go. / I might go.
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