In the distance could be seen the snow-capped mountains.
[From a grammar book for Japanese high school students.]
Question: Does could be seen have a past meaning? I think it is in the indicative mood.
Photon Question: Does could be seen have a past meaning? Yes. " The sentence is an inverted form (literary or poetic flavour) of "The snow-capped mountains could be seen in the distance".
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PhotonQuestion: Does could be seen have a past meaning?
Yes. It is the past form of "In the distance can be seen the snow-capped mountains."
The sentence is an inverted form (literary or poetic flavour) of "The snow-capped mountains could be seen in the distance".