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Penicillin Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
Question in (could)
Hello
Look at this simple sentence:
- He could learn English.
Does that mean he can now speak English very well, or he tried but wasn't able to?
Thanks
Look at this simple sentence:
- He could learn English.
Does that mean he can now speak English very well, or he tried but wasn't able to?
Thanks
Top answer
It was possible for him to learn English but he wasn't able to.
- It was possible for him to learn English but he wasn't able to.
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3 Answers
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It was possible for him to learn English but he wasn't able to.
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It's ambiguous. It could be used in both past and present/future contexts:
When he was enrolled in that school, he could [was able to, had the opportunity to] learn English.
He could [he has the capacity to] learn English (one of these days), but he's not really putting in the effort.
When he was enrolled in that school, he could [was able to, had the opportunity to] learn English.
He could [he has the capacity to] learn English (one of these days), but he's not really putting in the effort.
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I agree with Marius. Without further context, the sentence is ambiguous.
The sentence might also be used as a suggestion (e.g. If he learned English, that would solve some other problem or difficulty).
The sentence might also be used as a suggestion (e.g. If he learned English, that would solve some other problem or difficulty).
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