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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Modal 'could'; what's its function?
Hi, please look at the sentence below and tell me what role/function does the modal verb "could" playing? Could it be playing the function of possibility or a conditional of the modal verb 'can'? I think it can't denote one-time success.
When I went to tell those people, I could tell them nothing more that what I had told others two days ago.
When I went to tell those people, I could tell them nothing more that what I had told others two days ago.
Top answer
It is a past of can and means ability. It is one-time failure : he could (was able to) tell them nothing .
- It is a past of can and means ability.
- It is one-time failure : he could (was able to) tell them nothing .
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1 Answers
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It is a past of can and means ability. It is one-time failure: he could (was able to) tell them nothing.
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It is a past of can and means ability. It is one-time failure: he could (was able to) tell them nothing.
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