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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Regarding the usage of "could"
Dear teachers,
My English workbook says we can use both "could" and "was/were able to"
just to describe past ability, but we cannot use "could" if there was ability in the past, and the action was done actually. It says in this case we have to use "was/were able to".
I cite hereunder an example in the work book.
"I went to Mexico last week, and I was able to meet her then." is OK,
but
"I went to Mexico last week, and I could meet her then." is NG.
Is this really so?
Looking into the Longman dictionary of comtemporary English, I find an example;
"By the time she was eight, she could read Greek and Latin."
Would you pls let me understand correct usage?
Blissfarm
My English workbook says we can use both "could" and "was/were able to"
just to describe past ability, but we cannot use "could" if there was ability in the past, and the action was done actually. It says in this case we have to use "was/were able to".
I cite hereunder an example in the work book.
"I went to Mexico last week, and I was able to meet her then." is OK,
but
"I went to Mexico last week, and I could meet her then." is NG.
Is this really so?
Looking into the Longman dictionary of comtemporary English, I find an example;
"By the time she was eight, she could read Greek and Latin."
Would you pls let me understand correct usage?
Blissfarm
Top answer
Hi, I was taught that both " was/were able to " and " could " can be used to express ability in the past. Roughly speaking, " could " is not used with reference to one (or more) specific achievement in the past, but it can be used when referring to a general ability in the past (this, I think, is the case with your example from the Longman dictionary). uk/Practical-English-Usage-Michael-Swan/dp/0194420981 ") says: M.
- Hi, I was taught that both " was/were able to " and " could " can be used to express ability in the past.
- Roughly speaking, " could " is not used with reference to one (or more) specific achievement in the past, but it can be used when referring to a general ability in the past (this, I think, is the case with your example from the Longman dictionary).
- uk/Practical-English-Usage-Michael-Swan/dp/0194420981 ") says: M.
- 4 past: She could read when she was four We use could to talk about the past.
- She could read when she was four.
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1 Answers
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Hi,
I was taught that both "was/were able to" and "could" can be used to express ability in the past.
Roughly speaking, "could" is not used with reference to one (or more) specific achievement in the past, but it can be used when referring to a general ability in the past (this, I think, is the case with your example from the Longman dictionary).
I was taught that both "was/were able to" and "could" can be used to express ability in the past.
Roughly speaking, "could" is not used with reference to one (or more) specific achievement in the past, but it can be used when referring to a general ability in the past (this, I think, is the case with your example from the Longman dictionary).
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