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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Use of modal verb "could"

Hi. Would you find the underlined use of the modal verb "could" incorrect? Would you say it has to be the verb "was able to" (is this a verb anyway?) instead of the modal verb "could"? Also, would it be correct to use the verb (is this a verb anyway?) "could have done"?

(talking to a friend)

Hi. John. Long time no see. You know what? I was with some friends at a hamburger shop yesterday and we had a bet. The bet was if I could eat three hamburgers in one sitting, I would be able not to pay for the meal. Do you know what happened? I ate all three. You might wonder how I could do (was able to do?) that yesterday. It was like this ...
  

Top answer

Hi. John. Long time no see.

— Mister Micawber

  • Hi.
  • John.
  • Long time no see.
  • You know what?
  • I was with some friends at a hamburger shop yesterday and we made a bet: if I could eat three hamburgers in one sitting, I would not have to pay for the meal.
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3 Answers
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Hi. John. Long time no see. You know what? I was with some friends at a hamburger shop yesterday and we made a bet: if I could eat three hamburgers in one sitting, I would not have to pay for the meal. Do you know what happened? I ate all three. You might wonder how I could / was able to do that. It was like this ...
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Hi. Thank you. Would you kindly answer this question which I posed in my first post? I feel the verb (is this a verb anyway? Should I say a "verb form?) "could do" is better (correct?) but I am not sure why it couldn't be "could have done."

Also, would it be correct to use the verb (is this a verb anyway?) "could have done"?

Also, would you say the phrase (is that a phrase an
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As I have shown in my correction, 'could do' is fine. 'Could have done' sounds OK too.

These are all fine in writing or speaking:

I would be able to go / could go if I had a car
I would not be be able to go / I could not go, even if I had a car.
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