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PreciousJones Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

maybe

Maybe we can work something out next time. And

Maybe we could work something out next time.

ARe both useable in this case? What would a native say?

Thanks!
  

Top answer

Could is usually used as past tense and fits better in that structure. You can say: Maybe we could have worked something out. But cannot say: Maybe we can have worked something out.

— Anonymous

  • Could is usually used as past tense and fits better in that structure.
  • You can say: Maybe we could have worked something out.
  • But cannot say: Maybe we can have worked something out.
  • So for future tense I'd stick with can .
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2 Answers
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Could is usually used as past tense and fits better in that structure.

You can say:

Maybe we could have worked something out.

But cannot say:

Maybe we can have worked something out.

So for future tense I'd stick with can.
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Maybe we can work something out next time.
Maybe we could work something out next time.

Both are correct. The second is less direct. It seems more conciliatory.
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