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Anonymous Posted 5 years ago
Grammar

Use Of "Could"

Thanks to your help, I could solve the problem.

Thanks to your help, I was able to solve the problem.

cf. I could hear quite clearly what you were saying.

In this case the use of could is possible when referring to an actual performance in past time.


I have no idea why "could solve the problem" is ungrammatical while "could here what you were saying" is grammatical. Could it be that "could solve the problem" is not considered an actual performance in past time?

  

Top answer

anonymous Thanks to your help, I could solve the problem. Thanks to your help, I was able to solve the problem. cf.

— CalifJim

  • anonymous Thanks to your help, I could solve the problem.
  • Thanks to your help, I was able to solve the problem.
  • cf.
  • I could hear quite clearly what you were saying.
  • In this case the use of could is possible when referring to an actual performance in past time.
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1 Answers
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anonymous

Thanks to your help, I could solve the problem.

Thanks to your help, I was able to solve the problem.

cf. I could hear quite clearly what you were saying.

In this case the use of could is possible when referring to an actual performance in past time.

I have no idea why "could solve the problem" is ungrammatical wh

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