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Koji from Japan Posted 8 years ago
Grammar

The usage of 'could'

When I mention a past event, can I use ‘could’ like (a)?


(a) Since we made great efforts, we could make great improvements in ....


Or should I say like (b) or (c)?


(b) ... we made great improvements in ...

(c) ... we were able to make great improvements in ...


I ask this because I think ‘could’ is often used to say something about the present or the future.

  

Top answer

Koji from Japan When I mention a past event, can I use ‘could’ like (a)? (a) Since we made great efforts, we could make great improvements in .... Or should I say like (b) or (c)?

— CalifJim

  • Koji from Japan When I mention a past event, can I use ‘could’ like (a)?
  • (a) Since we made great efforts, we could make great improvements in ....
  • Or should I say like (b) or (c)?
  • (b) ...
  • we made great improvements in ...
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1 Answers
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Koji from Japan

When I mention a past event, can I use ‘could’ like (a)?


(a) Since we made great efforts, we could make great improvements in ....


Or should I say like (b) or (c)?


(b) ... we made great improvements in ...

(c) ... we were able to make great improvements in ...


I ask this because I think ‘could’ is often u

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