0
Seagull Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Modal verbs

(a) I only just managed to catch the airplane. Otherwise, I would not have been able to return by today.

(b) I only just managed to catch the airplane. Otherwise, I could not have returned by today.

What is the difference between the above two sentences? Maybe, (b) is incorrect because it sounds like, "There was no possibility that I could get back." Am I right?
  

Top answer

seagull What is the difference between the above two sentences? They seem just about the same to me. B is a bit more confident of the result, but that does not make it incorrect, certainly.

— Mister Micawber

  • seagull What is the difference between the above two sentences?
  • They seem just about the same to me.
  • B is a bit more confident of the result, but that does not make it incorrect, certainly.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

2 Answers
0
seagullWhat is the difference between the above two sentences?
They seem just about the same to me. B is a bit more confident of the result, but that does not make it incorrect, certainly.
0
0
Thank you so much indeed, Mister Micawber.
I have learned a lot.
0

Related Questions