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Newguest Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

If the brain were ...

Hi

Pribram points out that the problem becomes much more tractable if the brain were to convert all of its memories, including memories of learned abilities such as writing, into a language of interfering wave forms. Such a brain would be much more flexible and could shift its stored information around with the same ease that a skilled pianist transposes a song from one musical key to another.

Does were in the sentence above have the same meaning as "could", "if the brain could convert ..."?
  

Top answer

"? No. 'Could' means possibility, but 'were' refers to fact or the absence of fact.

— Mister Micawber

  • "?
  • No.
  • 'Could' means possibility, but 'were' refers to fact or the absence of fact.
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3 Answers
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NewguestDoes were in the sentence above have the same meaning as "could", "if the brain could convert ..."?
No. 'Could' means possibility, but 'were' refers to fact or the absence of fact.
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How about "were able to convert"?
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NewguestHow about "were able to convert"?
What about it? That is different, too. Were able to = could
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