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Sarahlearner Posted 7 years ago
Grammar

What kind of problems could she have had?

Gabby: Susan, are you okay?

Susan: I'm just so angry. If Mary Alice was having problems, she should have come to us. She should have let us help her.

Gabby: What kind of problems could she have had? She was healthy, had a great home, a nice family. No, if Mary Alice was having some sort of crisis, we'd have known. She lives 50 feet away, for god's sake.

Susan: Gabby, the woman killed herself. Something must have been going on.

TV Series: Desperate Housewives

Why Gabby didn't use "What kind of problems could she have?" as "could" is used for past possibility!

  

Top answer

" is correct - this is a past situation, and moreover, the person being talked about is deceased. " is used in a present situation talking about a person who is alive.

  • " is correct - this is a past situation, and moreover, the person being talked about is deceased.
  • " is used in a present situation talking about a person who is alive.
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1 Answers
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"What kind of problems could she have had?" is correct - this is a past situation, and moreover, the person being talked about is deceased. "What kind of problems could she have?" is used in a present situation talking about a person who is alive.

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