Question in can/could

Question

Why is this sentence correct?I wish I could go with you.NOT, I wish I can go with you.Although the sentence is at present time.Thanks

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

It is present subjunctive. Wish is a hypothetical verb, and takes the subjunctive.

Marius Hancu · Answer

>I wish I could go with you.

Perhaps you understand it in a translation with a conditional:

I wish the possibility of (my) going with you would exist.

Penicillin · Answer

Mister MicawberIt is present subjunctive. Wish is a hypothetical verb, and takes the subjunctive.

Can you give me some hypothetical verbs, please?

Mister Micawber · Answer

Wish is unique in how/when we use it, but there are other verbs that take subjunctive in their object clauses:

I wish that I were king.
I demanded that he return the money.
I recommend that she arrive earlier rather than later
I asked that the book be delivered by air express.

Penicillin · Answer

I didn't understand why we put

I wish I could go

NOT

I wish I can go

Please

CalifJim · Answer

Think of it as a peculiar thing about the word wish. We use the past form to indicate what we wish in the present! Strange, but true!

It's different from the use of hope, for example. Note the differences below. In the first of each pair (with hope and can), what is hoped may still be possible. In the second of each pair (with wish and could), what is wished for is known to be impossible. The past is used to show this impossibility rather than to show that something happened in the past. The only thing that has happened in the past in these cases is that we have already found out that the thing we wish for is not possible (or has not yet become possible).

I hope he can go. (Maybe he can.)
I wish he could go. (But he can't.)

Gary hopes that Eva can meet him at 3 o'clock. (Maybe she can.)
Gary wishes that Eva could meet him at 3 o'clock. (But she can't.)

We hope we can solve this problem before tomorrow. (Maybe we can.)
We wish we could solve this problem before tomorrow. (But we can't.)

Martha and her sister hope they can find a good motel in this town.
Martha and her sister wish they could find a good motel in this town.

Repeat these many times each day and you'll begin to do it automatically: I hope I can. I wish I could.

CJ

Penicillin · Answer

Thanks guys

I got it.

Penicillin · Answer

I have one more question.

I heard some senteces like these:

- You could say ...

- You could try ...

Why used "could" not "can"?

Thanks

Marius Hancu · Answer

Onh1986I have one more question.

I heard some senteces like these:

- You could say ...

- You could try ...

Because you're trying to polite.
Can is too strong.
And because you're not always sure.

CalifJim · Answer

Why used "could" not "can"?

You can use "can" or "could". As explained above, "can" shows greater certainty and confidence; "could" shows less certainty and confidence.

When giving permission to another person, we are more likely to say "can" (You can say ... if you want to say it.) because we want to be confident when allowing someone to do as they wish.

When suggesting a course of action to another person, we are more likely to say "could" (You could say ... if you want my opinion about what to do.) because we want to show that we offer the advice respectfully, so the other person doesn't feel that he must follow our advice.

CJ

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