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Pooyan Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

usage of 'could'

Hello, I'm reading somewhere that:

"Could is used for multiple occurrences of ability or ongoing ability. Could is not used for a moment of completion or success, a one-time event. (Could does not restrict or limiit the event to a single moment.)"

and it concludes that :

Through hard work and research, they could find a cure for the disease. (single event)

is incorrect, and instead we should use:

Through hard work and excellent research, they were able to find a cure for the disease.

but the first sentence sounds natural to me. Am I wrong? Thanks
  

Top answer

If you're referring to a single past event , then only "were able" is correct. Your first sentence (the one with "could") could be interpreted as "they had the ability to find a cure for the disaease" even if they didn't find it. The seconds implies that they did find a cure.

— Ivanhr

  • If you're referring to a single past event , then only "were able" is correct.
  • Your first sentence (the one with "could") could be interpreted as "they had the ability to find a cure for the disaease" even if they didn't find it.
  • The seconds implies that they did find a cure.
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3 Answers
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If you're referring to a single past event , then only "were able" is correct.

Your first sentence (the one with "could") could be interpreted as "they had the ability to find a cure for the disaease" even if they didn't find it.

The seconds implies that they did find a cure.
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For example

"I could find my iphone"

doen't mean the same as:

" I was able to find my iphone"

both refer to a single past event
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Nope. They are different.

I was able to find my iPhone. (you found your iPhone)

I could find my iPhone. (this just indicates a potential to find the iPhone; wehther you found it or not is completely irrelevant)
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