If you thik about vs If you could think about

Question

Hellow, everyone!If I change #(1) into #(2) below, could sentence #2 sound to imply more somthing critical or scarcarstic? (I inserted 'could' before 'think' in the second sentence.) (1) If you think about it, those children must be at school by now.(2) If you could think about it, those children must be at school by now.Many thinaks in advance!

RandomGuy · Accepted Answer

youngbutscould sentence #2 sound to imply more somthing critical or scarcarstic?

No, with could, the meaning is changed to If you were able to think about it, those children must be at school by now. It makes no sense.

KJinCali79 · Answer

The example with "could" does not make sense.  What is the sarcastic point you are trying to make?  A little more context might help us provide a different example.

Youngbuts · Answer

Thank you for your comment. Frankly, as you said, I would have liked to ask again, but I felt sorry to do and I did not have confidence to explain it well in Enlglish as well.

Probably I was likely to want to say "If he had an ability to think about the situation carefully, he could realize the situation is not what he thinks." (To me the sentence seems to critical, because the speaker supposes he does't have the ability.) If I come back to the original sentence in my above thread, maybe what I want to say could be used in the following situation : when my friend and I were walking on the street, we saw a bunch of teens. He said to me they looks so free. But to me they looked like skipping classes and roaming around, so I would like to reply to him as in 'If you had an abitlity think about it (carefully), (you could realize) those children must be at school by now.'

I'm afraid my question and English would not make a sense in English.

Thank you for your reading and time.

P.S. When I made 'If you could think about it, those children must be at school by now.', I supposed 'could' meant a subjunctive state, so I thought it also could imply I don't think you have the ability to think about it carefully. Now I have realized it doesn't work thanks to Aspara Gus and you.

KJinCali79 · Answer

If you are worried about it sounding too critical, as is to assume he does not have the ability to think which would be rude, you can shift the critcism to the childen using "should."

Yes, but if you think about it, those children should be at school by now.

By using, "yes" you're communicating that you understand his point; however, you have a different view by pointing out that you think the children "should" be at school. By omitting "could" you are assuming he can in fact think about this situation a different way. This changes the meaning slightly from your original post, because it is now just your opinion rather than a critique of his opinion or his ability to think of the situation more deeply. That may not be what you want, but I'm providing it as an option based on your subsequent post.

If you thik about vs If you could think about

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