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PreciousJones Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

MJ

Talking about Michael Jordan. I say:

He can still play if he wanted to.

Can you say this?
  

Top answer

Yes, but could is more appropriate, I’d say.

— RandomGuy

  • Yes, but could is more appropriate, I’d say.
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9 Answers
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Yes, but could is more appropriate, I’d say.
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Aspara GusYes, but could is more appropriate, I’d say.
But, could means it's only a possibility. What if I want to make so known that it's more of a probability? Another question I have is shouldn't we always the conditional always be in one tense?

He could if he wanted to.. OR

He can if he want to... But that doesn't really work with wha
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PreciousJonesBut, could means it's only a possibility.
No. The sentence means that if he wanted to play again he would be able to. There is no uncertainty implied.
PreciousJonesHe can if he want to... But that doesn't really work with what I would like to explain.
That doesn’t work at all. It’s incorrect.
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Aspara Gus PreciousJonesBut, could means it's only a possibility.No. The sentence means that if he wanted to play again he would be able to. There is no uncertainty implied.PreciousJonesHe can if he want to... But that doesn't really work with what I would like to explain.That doesn’t work at all. It’s incorrect.
but doesn't could mean that he might hav
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PreciousJonesbut doesn't could mean that he might have the ability to play and not he does have the ability to play.
No, I don’t think very many native speakers would interpret the sentence that way. With hypothetical if-clauses like if he wanted to, we use could instead of can, just as we do would instead of will.
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Aspara Gus PreciousJonesbut doesn't could mean that he might have the ability to play and not he does have the ability to play.No, I don’t think very many native speakers would interpret the sentence that way. With hypothetical if-clauses like if he wanted to, we use could instead of can, just as we do would instead of will.
You make it sound like I don't alre
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I sense no difference in meaning at all. Can just sounds less natural, less appropriate. That’s all I’m saying.
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Aspara GusI sense no difference in meaning at all. Can just sounds less natural, less appropriate. That’s all I’m saying.
I'm just glad you understand where I'm coming from... but don't you feel like what I just explained to you does make what I'm trying to portray more clear and exact?

Could is only a possibility or a chance of something happ
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PreciousJonesbut don't you feel like what I just explained to you does make what I'm trying to portray more clear and exact?
Not really, sorry.
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