Please explain a grammar point of COULD
Assuming that the following sentence is written correctly:
While the medicine has proven to be effective so far, it could have the opposite effect if you use it more.
And as I understood, in this sentence, “could” is used to express an ability in the future. Could you please explain to me what grammar point used here is?
Thank you in advance for your help.
Top answer
While the medicine has proven to be effective so far, it could have the opposite effect if you use it more. Modal remote "could" exhibits epistemic modality, a meaning that has to do with what is necessary or, as in your example, what is possible. In your example, "could" has a tentative meaning, one where the opposite effect of using the medicine more is less assured or likely.
- While the medicine has proven to be effective so far, it could have the opposite effect if you use it more.
- Modal remote "could" exhibits epistemic modality, a meaning that has to do with what is necessary or, as in your example, what is possible.
- In your example, "could" has a tentative meaning, one where the opposite effect of using the medicine more is less assured or likely.
- But if you replace "could" with "can", the effect is seen as more likely: While the medicine has proven to be effective so far, it can have the opposite effect if you use it more.
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While the medicine has proven to be effective so far, it could have the opposite effect if you use it more.
Modal remote "could" exhibits epistemic modality, a meaning that has to do with what is necessary or, as in your example, what is possible.
In your example, "could" has a tentative meaning, one where the opposite effect of using the medicine more is less assu
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