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Ahmedali111 Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

"could/might"for present and past

as as I know when expressing probabilty in the past we say

you might /could have won (past)

and for present

you might/could win (present)

but when reading a story the present form is used for something which happened in the narration while it is in the past , how is that? for example : "Joahn could choose the red one , but........"
  

Top answer

I think it is either used like that in the specific usages or there is a much better explanation:D

— Doll

  • I think it is either used like that in the specific usages or there is a much better explanation:D
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6 Answers
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Yes I faced with such usage too.But you can see this in newspaper articles and while you are listening to a soccer game from the radio.Also when one of my native friends tells me a story she uses present tense.I think it is either used like that in the specific usages or there is a much better explanation:D
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I do not fully understand your point. John could choose the red one (i.e., John would be able to choose the red one) seems to be a "present" usage of could, and yet you are asking about a "past" usage of could. Can you clarify what you mean, perhaps with an example with clearer context?

CJ
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He just thinks that could can only be the past form of can ,nothing else.
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“Could” or “might” are not indictors of past, although it may seem that way at times. They are more of a suggestive indicator of possibility or probability.



I could have stayed home (but I didn’t) to rest up my cold, but I have a lot of work to do in the office.

It may have been helpful in getting your application processed if you had the correct information. (but you
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Thank you all

My point is( IN STORIES AND NOVELS" could" and " might" are used without adding " have " to them while talking about a possiblility in the past). does it happen in narration only ?
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Ahmedali111My point is( IN STORIES AND NOVELS" could" and " might" are used without adding " have " to them while talking about a possiblility in the past). does it happen in narration only ?
No, I don't think you understood Goodman's point.

could have done

means he was in a position of doing something, somethin
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