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Anonymous Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
tense question
Hi,
In this writing in the article named "One-Eyed People and Terrible Monsters," are the underlined verbs used carry a sense of the past? One as the past form of 'can' and the other as the past form of "may"? Can the second one be "might have looked sound but have been eaten through"?
A sailor had to face many dangers ... Shipworms could attack a boat's wooden planking. A sailing vessel might look sound but be eaten through.
In this writing in the article named "One-Eyed People and Terrible Monsters," are the underlined verbs used carry a sense of the past? One as the past form of 'can' and the other as the past form of "may"? Can the second one be "might have looked sound but have been eaten through"?
A sailor had to face many dangers ... Shipworms could attack a boat's wooden planking. A sailing vessel might look sound but be eaten through.
Top answer
Hi, The answer to your questions is 'Yes'. Clive
- Hi, The answer to your questions is 'Yes'.
- Clive
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3 Answers
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I'd say past with a shade of the hypothetical.
Shipworms would have been able to attack the planking. (as opposed to the simpler Shipworms were able to attack the planking.)
It would have been possible that a vessel looked sound but was eaten through. (as opposed to the simpler It was possible that ....)
CJ
Shipworms would have been able to attack the planking. (as opposed to the simpler Shipworms were able to attack the planking.)
It would have been possible that a vessel looked sound but was eaten through. (as opposed to the simpler It was possible that ....)
CJ
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