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Johner Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Possibility
Hi,
Just turn the key. How hard could it be?
Here when we hear the "could " we only think of a general possibility, right? This possibility doesn't include any tense or intention; pure, simple possibility. So I need to know if there're some other words that can be used instead of the "could" or is it the perfect word for such contexts considering the action verbs?
To clarify; in my previous sentence:
...other words that can be used instead of the "could"...
"can", in this case, includes no tense (OK) but it doesn't imply possibility, it implies ability. So I know that the best word for a general ability is "can". What about the general possibility in the same way? Which word is perfect and most common, which are the other options?
Thanks in advance..
Just turn the key. How hard could it be?
Here when we hear the "could " we only think of a general possibility, right? This possibility doesn't include any tense or intention; pure, simple possibility. So I need to know if there're some other words that can be used instead of the "could" or is it the perfect word for such contexts considering the action verbs?
To clarify; in my previous sentence:
...other words that can be used instead of the "could"...
"can", in this case, includes no tense (OK) but it doesn't imply possibility, it implies ability. So I know that the best word for a general ability is "can". What about the general possibility in the same way? Which word is perfect and most common, which are the other options?
Thanks in advance..
Top answer
Both can and could can mean both ability and possibility. Both could and do appear in your sentence, and with the same meaning. Just turn the key.
- Both can and could can mean both ability and possibility.
- Both could and do appear in your sentence, and with the same meaning.
- Just turn the key.
- How hard could it be?
- Just turn the key.
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5 Answers
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Both can and could can mean both ability and possibility. Both could and do appear in your sentence, and with the same meaning.
Just turn the key. How hard could it be?
Just turn the key. How hard can it be?
Just turn the key. How hard is it?
Just turn the key. How hard could it be?
Just turn the key. How hard can it be?
Just turn the key. How hard is it?
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johnerHere when we hear the "could " we only think of a general possibility, right?I'm trying to imagine what it means to think only of a general possibility, but it seems to me that you're on the right track.
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Hi Mr. Micawber and CJ,
As far as I understand from your replies, as long as the action or the state is general (present) it's no problem using "can" for both possibility and ability. If so, I can easily make the following sentences and they will be perfect for sure(?) :
From time to time someone can hate being in public. OR
- What's wrong with Jo
As far as I understand from your replies, as long as the action or the state is general (present) it's no problem using "can" for both possibility and ability. If so, I can easily make the following sentences and they will be perfect for sure(?) :
From time to time someone can hate being in public. OR
- What's wrong with Jo
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johnerFrom time to time someone can hate being in public. ORThese are not natural. I don't know what you're attempting by using "from time to time" and "at times". It seems you're trying to show usual or characteristic behavior, but the
- What's wrong with John? He's acting like a fool.
- At times there's nothing worth watching on TV, he can act so.
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Hi,
Sorry I think I couldn't express myself clearly. To be honest neither "from time to time" nor "at times" are the expressions I've used so far. I put them in the sentences so I could say "it's not everytime", "only sometimes" (restricted generality) as can be seen more obviously in the second example which is more of a dialogue. First one might not be possessing the nuance I wanted to
Sorry I think I couldn't express myself clearly. To be honest neither "from time to time" nor "at times" are the expressions I've used so far. I put them in the sentences so I could say "it's not everytime", "only sometimes" (restricted generality) as can be seen more obviously in the second example which is more of a dialogue. First one might not be possessing the nuance I wanted to
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