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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Word choice confusion

I am pretty sure these sentences are correct:
1. I knew I could play better.
2. I knew I could have played better.

So my questions are:
1.Is it possible to use can instead of could in the first sentence, or not just because the sentence is in the past due to the word knew and therefore, the whole tenses should be in the past?

2. Is it possible to use the word 'know' instead of knew in the second sentence, if not please explain why?

Thank you very much!
  

Top answer

Anonymous Is it possible to use can instead of could in the first sentence No. "knew (that)" takes a past oriented clause, as you have correctly assumed. Anonymous Is it possible to use the word 'know' instead of knew in the second sentence Yes.

— CalifJim

  • Anonymous Is it possible to use can instead of could in the first sentence No.
  • "knew (that)" takes a past oriented clause, as you have correctly assumed.
  • Anonymous Is it possible to use the word 'know' instead of knew in the second sentence Yes.
  • You can know now what could have happened in the past.
  • CJ
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17 Answers
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AnonymousIs it possible to use can instead of could in the first sentence
No. "knew (that)" takes a past oriented clause, as you have correctly assumed.
AnonymousIs it possible to use the word 'know' instead of knew in the second sentence
Yes. You can know now what could have happened in the past.

CJ
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Thank you very much teacher. Just to confirm:

All tenses in a sentences should usually be the same in clauses, Past- past: present-present. Right? I hope I am right here because that would be the easiest way to remember how to put tenses correctly in sentence. If a sentences is in the past all tenses should be in the past etc..

For the second sentence, as you have said, it could
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AnonymousFor the second sentence, as you have said, it could be in the past (as in I knew ....) and present (I know ...), right?
Again, you are asking the same thing that you have already asked about and received an answer for.
AnonymousIs it possible to use the word 'know' instead of knew in the second sent
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Thank you very much. That was very helpful.

I just have one more question. Could the word 'can' be used instead of 'could' for the below sentence, or not just because the sentence is in the past due to did not?

I did not know I could take those classes
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AnonymousCould the word 'can' be used instead of 'could'
No. Say "I did not know I can ..." only if you want to announce that English is not your native language.
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Hehe thanks. And the reason is as I said and you mentioned it is in the past so the clause has to follow. Right?

Also, is this correct: I did not know I could have taken those classes.
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AnonymousAlso, is this correct: I did not know I could have taken those classes.
Yes, it is correct.
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Anonymousin the past so the clause has to follow. Right?
Right.

CJ
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Dear CJ, I would like to clear one doubt that I have. As you said clauses have to follow each other, and the word can can't be used for the past event. So we know that we usually use 'could' for the past, but 'could' and 'would' unlike can and will (that cant be used for the past) can also be used for the present. Am I correct? For example: this can or could be beneficial for you? ; You can or co
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AnonymousAm I correct?
Yes.

Present-oriented usage: can, will; and could, would (to indicate such things as uncertainty or politeness)
Past-oriented usage: could, would
AnonymousThis can or could be beneficial for you.
This can ... (I know
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