Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
fuzzy 'can' and 'could' distinctions in past
0 Hi, 02 br
02 br
00 I think a person is usually taught that the modal 'can' denotes ability, like the ability to do something, eg, taking a heavy object to a place; and 'could' can be used like 'can' similarly in some situations but ususally denotes a person's intention along with action. 02 br
02 br
00 But this can work functionally for present time situations but doesn't seem to work when put context in the past time frame. 02 br
02 br
00 I was sick, so I couldn't play tennis. -- this past 'could' doesn't indicate any intention but indicates his ability; but there is any tense to use to reflect that, as it seems to me. 02 br
02 br
00 I am sick, so I can't play tennis. -- reflects rightly the ability of me. 0-
02 br
00 I think a person is usually taught that the modal 'can' denotes ability, like the ability to do something, eg, taking a heavy object to a place; and 'could' can be used like 'can' similarly in some situations but ususally denotes a person's intention along with action. 02 br
02 br
00 But this can work functionally for present time situations but doesn't seem to work when put context in the past time frame. 02 br
02 br
00 I was sick, so I couldn't play tennis. -- this past 'could' doesn't indicate any intention but indicates his ability; but there is any tense to use to reflect that, as it seems to me. 02 br
02 br
00 I am sick, so I can't play tennis. -- reflects rightly the ability of me. 0-
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0 Yes. 02 br
02 br
00 I wrote: 02 br
02 br
00 I was sick, so I couldn't play tennis. -- this past 'could' doesn't indicate any intention but indicates his ability; but there is any tense to use to reflect that, as it seems to me. 02 br
02 br
00 Is this one of the limitations of the English language: don't have a tense and/or modal? to express action
02 br
00 I wrote: 02 br
02 br
00 I was sick, so I couldn't play tennis. -- this past 'could' doesn't indicate any intention but indicates his ability; but there is any tense to use to reflect that, as it seems to me. 02 br
02 br
00 Is this one of the limitations of the English language: don't have a tense and/or modal? to express action
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0 01 blockquote
01 cite 10 Anonymous 12 cite 10 I was sick, so I couldn't play tennis. -- this past 'could' doesn't indicate any intention but indicates his ability; but there is 11 font 11 del110 any 12 del10 no 12 font 10 tense to use to reflect that, as it seems to me. 12 blockquote
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1 i 00 I was sick, so I 01 b 00 couldn't 02 b 00 play tennis. 02 i 02 br
02 br
01 i 00 I was sick, so I 01 b 00 wasn't able to 02 b 00 play tennis. 02 i 02 br
01 i 00 I was sick, so I 01 b 00 couldn't have 02 b 00 played tennis, as my accuser says, even if I 01 b 00 (had) wanted 02 b
02 br
01 i 00 I was sick, so I 01 b 00 wasn't able to 02 b 00 play tennis. 02 i 02 br
01 i 00 I was sick, so I 01 b 00 couldn't have 02 b 00 played tennis, as my accuser says, even if I 01 b 00 (had) wanted 02 b
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