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Sabyakgp Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
"Could" or "Could have"?
Dear Friends,
Could anyone please let me know which two of the four sentences given below are correct.
1) Which terrorist group could have set the bomb off?
2) Which terrorist group could set the bomb off?
Considerng that the explosion has already taken place.
1) That was the best salary I could have had at the time.
2) That was the best salary I could have at the time.
Talking about the salary of my first job which I got 6 years ageo.
Please help me.
Best Regards,
Sabya
Could anyone please let me know which two of the four sentences given below are correct.
1) Which terrorist group could have set the bomb off?
2) Which terrorist group could set the bomb off?
Considerng that the explosion has already taken place.
1) That was the best salary I could have had at the time.
2) That was the best salary I could have at the time.
Talking about the salary of my first job which I got 6 years ageo.
Please help me.
Best Regards,
Sabya
Top answer
Sabyakgp Dear Friends, Could anyone please let me know which two of the four sentences given below are correct. 1) Which terrorist group could have set the bomb off? OK 2) Which terrorist group could set the bomb off?
- Sabyakgp Dear Friends, Could anyone please let me know which two of the four sentences given below are correct.
- 1) Which terrorist group could have set the bomb off?
- OK 2) Which terrorist group could set the bomb off?
- dubious Considerng that the explosion has already taken place.
- 1) That was the best salary I could have had at the time.
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10 Answers
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SabyakgpDear Friends,
Could anyone please let me know which two of the four sentences given below are correct.
1) Which terrorist group could have set the bomb off? OK
2) Which terrorist group could set the bomb off? dubious
Considerng that the explosion has already taken place.
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Hi,
I'm supposed to be an expert on this stuff, I should have a degree in "could and might engineering", LOL. However, I'm not so good at coulds and mights, actually. But I can try:
Which terrorist group could have set the bomb off? <--- this is the one you want.
That was the best salary I could have at the time. <--- this is probably the one you want. It
I'm supposed to be an expert on this stuff, I should have a degree in "could and might engineering", LOL. However, I'm not so good at coulds and mights, actually. But I can try:
Which terrorist group could have set the bomb off? <--- this is the one you want.
That was the best salary I could have at the time. <--- this is probably the one you want. It
00
Hi,
I could be wrong but the sentence "That was the best salary I could have had at the time." I think the underlined part is in present perfect and to use a present perfect with a somewhat precise time reference, which in this case is 'at the time', makes it awkward, if not wrong. Of course, Pieanne seemed to have said 'okay' and that kind of nudges me to take a very cautious stan
I could be wrong but the sentence "That was the best salary I could have had at the time." I think the underlined part is in present perfect and to use a present perfect with a somewhat precise time reference, which in this case is 'at the time', makes it awkward, if not wrong. Of course, Pieanne seemed to have said 'okay' and that kind of nudges me to take a very cautious stan
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Thanks pieanne,Kooyeen and Believer .
But I am bit confused now.
According to pieanne:
"Which terrorist group could have set the bomb off" OK,
Is it because that we are not sure whether any terrorist group set off the bomb or not? (Here we are using "Could" to express the possibility).
"Which terrorist group could set the bomb off? dubious"
Can you
But I am bit confused now.
According to pieanne:
"Which terrorist group could have set the bomb off" OK,
Is it because that we are not sure whether any terrorist group set off the bomb or not? (Here we are using "Could" to express the possibility).
"Which terrorist group could set the bomb off? dubious"
Can you
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Let me first talk about the first set of examples.
"Which terrorist group could have set the bomb off" : the bomb has exploded, and you're wondering which terrorist group, among all those you know, could be responsible for the attempt, that is "could have set the bomb off". "Have set off" is a past infinitive (not a present perfect), and shows that the "setting the bomb off" occered in th
"Which terrorist group could have set the bomb off" : the bomb has exploded, and you're wondering which terrorist group, among all those you know, could be responsible for the attempt, that is "could have set the bomb off". "Have set off" is a past infinitive (not a present perfect), and shows that the "setting the bomb off" occered in th
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As to the second set of examples:
1) "That was the best salary I could have had at the time." I read it as a past conditional a conditional, but I have to say, the more I read it, the more I find it wrong and the more I think Koyeen is right! (sorry, I read too fast the first time)
2) "That was the best salary I could have at the time." It's the past simple of "can", and is quite
1) "That was the best salary I could have had at the time." I read it as a past conditional a conditional, but I have to say, the more I read it, the more I find it wrong and the more I think Koyeen is right! (sorry, I read too fast the first time)
2) "That was the best salary I could have at the time." It's the past simple of "can", and is quite
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Thanks pieanne. Can you please explain my another doubt?
Basically, I am really confused as to whether should I use "Would" or "Could" as per as expressing possibility is concerned.
For Example :
A Terrorist group would have set off the bomb. (We are not certain but it's likely that a terrori
Basically, I am really confused as to whether should I use "Would" or "Could" as per as expressing possibility is concerned.
For Example :
A Terrorist group would have set off the bomb. (We are not certain but it's likely that a terrori
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A Terrorist group would have set off the bomb. (We are not certain On the contrary, we are certain. but it's likely that a terrorist group set off the bomb) There's an implicit condition: if they had had the opportunity to do so.
A Terrorist group could have set off the bomb. (What is the difference between this sentence and the ab
A Terrorist group could have set off the bomb. (What is the difference between this sentence and the ab
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Hi,
"they would have set off the bomb" <--- they didn't set it off. They would have set it off if...
"they would have set off the bomb" <--- they didn't set it off. They would have set it off if...
CalifJimIf they could have set off the bomb, they would have set it off. .I'd never thought of such an example... It was another case where I didn't know what to choose... thank *** I found out, thanks
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Thank you, all.
Let me go back and correct what I have said. I think now that the underlined part is sort of a modal verb expressing the sense of the past. I think it was naive (and wrong) for me to have said that 'have had' part was a present perfect.
That was the best salary I could have had at the time.
Let me go back and correct what I have said. I think now that the underlined part is sort of a modal verb expressing the sense of the past. I think it was naive (and wrong) for me to have said that 'have had' part was a present perfect.
That was the best salary I could have had at the time.
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