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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

using "couldn't" in conditionals

Is it possible to use "couldn't" in 2nd and 3rd conditional? For example:

If it rained, I couldn't come to your house.

it sounds strange to me but I can't find a grammar rule against it. I would use "wouldn't be able to"
Similarialy, the use of "suppose"

Suppose you were poor. You couldn't buy a house.
  

Top answer

I should stay out of this, but I don't think the "you were poor" example is really similarialy. It sounds much better to my ear than the "I couldn't come" example. I'm wondering if the subjunctive has something to do with it.

— Avangi

  • I should stay out of this, but I don't think the "you were poor" example is really similarialy.
  • It sounds much better to my ear than the "I couldn't come" example.
  • I'm wondering if the subjunctive has something to do with it.
  • "If it were to rain, I couldn't come to your house" sounds fine to me.
  • I think perhaps second person subjunctive and indicative are the same, so in the last example we take it as subjunctive.
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1 Answers
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I should stay out of this, but I don't think the "you were poor" example is really similarialy. It sounds much better to my ear than the "I couldn't come" example.

I'm wondering if the subjunctive has something to do with it. "If it were to rain, I couldn't come to your house" sounds fine to me. I think perhaps second person subjunctive and indicative are the same, so in the last exam
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