0
Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Modal question: "could" past of "can"?
Hi. I think I have heard people say plenty of times that the modal "could" is past of the modal "can." As I think about that, I find it confusing if we consider the fact that the modal "could" couldn't express something one could do one time in the past like this.
I could read ten pages of a book yesterday.
In reported speech, it seems to me the case is clear that the modal "could" is the past form of the modal "can" (if I am not mistaken".
eg,
John: I can do it tommorrow.
Reported speech of what John said: John said he could do it tomorrow.
I think I am confused about what does it mean when someone says "The modal 'could' is the past of 'can'." Help.
I could read ten pages of a book yesterday.
In reported speech, it seems to me the case is clear that the modal "could" is the past form of the modal "can" (if I am not mistaken".
eg,
John: I can do it tommorrow.
Reported speech of what John said: John said he could do it tomorrow.
I think I am confused about what does it mean when someone says "The modal 'could' is the past of 'can'." Help.
Top answer
Not always. As in your reported speech example , yes, it can be considered to be the past of "can" To talk about sb's abilities in the past, yes, it can be considered to be the past of "can" eg: She could finish reading a whole book in two days when she was younger. , it can be considered to be the past of "can" When I arrived home yesterday, I could smell something burning.
- Not always.
- As in your reported speech example , yes, it can be considered to be the past of "can" To talk about sb's abilities in the past, yes, it can be considered to be the past of "can" eg: She could finish reading a whole book in two days when she was younger.
- , it can be considered to be the past of "can" When I arrived home yesterday, I could smell something burning.
- In your sentence, "I could read ten pages of book yesterday " = one thing at a time with a similar meaning to "managed to", I wouldn't normally use it.
- " On the other hand, in most cases, such as in suggestions, requests etc.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
3 Answers
0
Not always.
As in your reported speech example , yes, it can be considered to be the past of "can"
To talk about sb's abilities in the past, yes, it can be considered to be the past of "can" eg: She could finish reading a whole book in two days when she was younger.
With the verbs of perception such as see, smell etc., it can be considered to be the past of "can" W
As in your reported speech example , yes, it can be considered to be the past of "can"
To talk about sb's abilities in the past, yes, it can be considered to be the past of "can" eg: She could finish reading a whole book in two days when she was younger.
With the verbs of perception such as see, smell etc., it can be considered to be the past of "can" W
00
Hi, there
I'm teaching this to my group of high intermediate students here in Lima - Peru. Tonight, I'll explain them the different uses of "can" and "could". And, as the lady that precedes me, "could" is the past of "can" when talking about abilities. But, of course, there are situations where it is imopssible to use "can" or a form of it to express, for instance, the future simple.
I'm teaching this to my group of high intermediate students here in Lima - Peru. Tonight, I'll explain them the different uses of "can" and "could". And, as the lady that precedes me, "could" is the past of "can" when talking about abilities. But, of course, there are situations where it is imopssible to use "can" or a form of it to express, for instance, the future simple.
00
Welcome to the world of modal verbs! The most confusing area after perfect tenses sigh
AnonymousHi. I think I have heard people say plenty of times that the modal "could" is past of the modal "can."Yes, as a non-native speaker who has struggled with this sort of grammar for a long time, I would take it that way. I think you can use "could" every time yo
0
Related Questions