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DVBC Posted 7 years ago
Grammar
Using if/when in a real condition in the past with could in a main clause
Hello, I have a question about using if/when in a sentence with modal verb "could".
I have Michael Swan's "Practical English Usage" 2nd edition.
In the section that I've made a screenshot of the author says that we can use "could" when we want to say something about what is/was common or typical.
Is it possible to change "if" to "when" in the sentence that I pointed at with a red arrow so it will be like this "It could be quite frightening when you were alone in our big old house"?
I'm asking this because I think this sentence is "an open/real condition in the past" and means that "something sometimes happened and can be rephrased with "when" instead of "if".
Thank you beforehand for your answers.
Screenshot
I have Michael Swan's "Practical English Usage" 2nd edition.
In the section that I've made a screenshot of the author says that we can use "could" when we want to say something about what is/was common or typical.
Is it possible to change "if" to "when" in the sentence that I pointed at with a red arrow so it will be like this "It could be quite frightening when you were alone in our big old house"?
I'm asking this because I think this sentence is "an open/real condition in the past" and means that "something sometimes happened and can be rephrased with "when" instead of "if".
Thank you beforehand for your answers.
Screenshot
Top answer
DVBC Is it possible to change "if" to "when" in the sentence that I pointed at with a red arrow so it will be like this "It could be quite frightening when you were alone in our big old house"? Yes. That's fine.
- DVBC Is it possible to change "if" to "when" in the sentence that I pointed at with a red arrow so it will be like this "It could be quite frightening when you were alone in our big old house"?
- Yes.
- That's fine.
- CJ
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1 Answers
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DVBCIs it possible to change "if" to "when" in the sentence that I pointed at with a red arrow so it will be like this "It could be quite frightening when you were alone in our big old house"?
Yes. That's fine.
CJ
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