Modal in the past tense

Question

I have learned two ways for the modal verb to express the past tense.

for example

1. I could do. / I would do

2. I could have done. / I would have done

I often read both forms in English writings.

but I don't know how they are different from each other and what I should take in a certain

context to express the past tense.

please help me to solve this problem.

thank you in advance.

Fandorin · Accepted Answer

AnonymousI have learned two ways for the modal verb to express the past tense.

for example

1. I could do. / I was able to do it in a past.
I would do. It's rather complicated to define the exact meaning of "would here" because of lack of context. It may be "I used to do it" or "I promised I would do it in future( I may have done it or I may not. ).

2. I could have done. I was able to do it but I didn't do it. It seems like a part of the Third Conditional. But sometimes we can use such a construction for the events took place in the past.
I would have done. It has the same meaning to me as above, so it refers to unreal and uncertain situations in the past.

I often read both forms in English writings.

but I don't know how they are different from each other and what I should take in a certain

context to express the past tense.

please help me to solve this problem.

thank you in advance.

If you have any further quiestions, please ask.

KateJS · Answer

It's a fine distinction, but "would have done" suggests a more definitine intention.

I could have done it... but I just didn't. Looking back, that is a course of action I could have taken, but I didn't necessarily think of it at the time. "I could have gone to London, but I chose not to". "I could have asked her about that yesterday - silly me!"

I would have done it... if some other circumstance had existed. "I would have gone to London, but I was ill". If I had known that he was lying, I would have left him".

Modal in the past tense

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