0
Barazandeh Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?

I was told that the past form of can is could;However i have seen that could is used for present and sometimes the past form of could is could+have+past participle .
could you please shed light on it more?also tell me which of these is correct and why?

She couldn't make up her mind whether to attend Harvard or Stanford.finally she chose Stanford
She couldn't have made up her mind whether to attend Harvard or Stanford.finally she chose Stanford.
Thanks a lot.
  

Top answer

'Could' is sometimes the past of 'can' and sometimes it is the more hesitant/polite/hypothetical form of 'can' in the same tense. In this 2nd case, 'could have' is the past of 'could'. -- Past of 'can'; she was unable to in the past.

— Mister Micawber

  • 'Could' is sometimes the past of 'can' and sometimes it is the more hesitant/polite/hypothetical form of 'can' in the same tense.
  • In this 2nd case, 'could have' is the past of 'could'.
  • -- Past of 'can'; she was unable to in the past.
  • She couldn't have made up her mind whether to attend Harvard or Stanford.
  • = Past of 'could'; I think it is impossible that she was able to make up her mind.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

1 Answers
0
'Could' is sometimes the past of 'can' and sometimes it is the more hesitant/polite/hypothetical form of 'can' in the same tense. In this 2nd case, 'could have' is the past of 'could'.

She couldn't make up her mind whether to attend Harvard or Stanford.-- Past of 'can'; she was unable to in the past.
She couldn't have made up her mind whether to attend Harvard or Stanfo
0

Related Questions