we could hear if anyone came along the trail.

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	New2grammar  #537930  Mon, 07 Jul 08 07:50 PM Ant_222 Yes — CJ confirmed you, although I still don't quite understand how 'could' works... Sorry, I got myself confused. I was referring to we could/would hear anyone come along the trail" Can I say 'came'? (EDIT: I don't think "CJ confirmed you " is correct. It shoud be CJ confirmed your 'something' or he agreed with you)    New2grammar Joined on Tue, Nov 21 2006 Veteran Member (7,670) Who wants to go sailing around the world with me?

	Ant_222  #537933  Mon, 07 Jul 08 07:57 PM Although you are right about "confirmed", I think it's incorrect to say "We could/would hear anyone came along the track".    Ant_222 Joined on Sun, May 21 2006 Podolsk, Russia Contributing Member (1,547)

	New2grammar  #537934  Mon, 07 Jul 08 07:59 PM Thanks, Ant. I agree that come is commonly used in this construction. But I'm wondering whether 'came' is also correct and if there's any difference. Maybe a native speaker will clarify.    New2grammar
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	Ant_222  #537946  Mon, 07 Jul 08 08:40 PM This time you may believe me, "I could hear anyone came along the trail" is 100% wrong.    Ant_222

	New2grammar  #537952  Mon, 07 Jul 08 08:44 PM Ant, I think you are right. Google supports you. Thank you.    New2grammar

	CalifJim  #538065  Tue, 08 Jul 08 02:06 AM Ant_222 "I could hear anyone came along the trail" is 100% wrong. Yes.  With came, it is wrong. With come or coming, it is fine, however.  CJ     CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member (16,979) "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

	New2grammar  #538066  Tue, 08 Jul 08 02:07 AM Thanks, CJ.    New2grammar

	CalifJim  #538067  Tue, 08 Jul 08 02:15 AM It was so quiet we could hear if anyone came along the trail. This is understandable as it stands, but I think the intended meaning is better expressed in a different way: It was so quiet (that) [we would have been able to hear  (=could have heard) / would have heard] anyone [who came / who was coming / coming] along the trail. Compare this with a commonly made remark: It was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.  << This is the more idiomatic one. (Not  It was so quiet you could hear if a pin dropped.) CJ     CalifJim

	New2grammar  #538068  Tue, 08 Jul 08 02:20 AM CJ, at that time, I didn't want my reader to know whether anyone else would show up. I'm afraid 'could have heard/would have heard' would give that away. What do you think? Thanks.    New2grammar