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SuperESL Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Present/Past tenses
"In 1951 Khrushchev compiled a report for Stalin on the methods of collectivizing the agricultural sector. And it [is] in the substance of this report that one [can] notice the divergence in views between the two men."
Regarding the second sentence, should I use [was, could] instead of [is, can]? Must the past tense be used? What difference does it make at all?
Thank you.
Regarding the second sentence, should I use [was, could] instead of [is, can]? Must the past tense be used? What difference does it make at all?
Thank you.
Top answer
Hi, If you use 'could', it focuses on possibilities in the past. ie it sounds like this 'noticing' is unlikely to happen much today. If you use 'can', it focuses more on present possibilities.
- Hi, If you use 'could', it focuses on possibilities in the past.
- ie it sounds like this 'noticing' is unlikely to happen much today.
- If you use 'can', it focuses more on present possibilities.
- It makes the report seem more relevant to the present.
- It sounds to me like you should use 'can' .
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1 Answers
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Hi,
If you use 'could', it focuses on possibilities in the past. ie it sounds like this 'noticing' is unlikely to happen much today.
If you use 'can', it focuses more on present possibilities. It makes the report seem more relevant to the present.
If you use 'could', it focuses on possibilities in the past. ie it sounds like this 'noticing' is unlikely to happen much today.
If you use 'can', it focuses more on present possibilities. It makes the report seem more relevant to the present.
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