Could not or can not

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Bikerdave  #339607  Thu, 15 Mar 07 04:11 PM

In the following sentence, which is correct, could not or can not?

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Philip  #339615  Thu, 15 Mar 07 04:17 PM
 Bikerdave wrote:

In the following sentence, which is correct, could not or can not?

If for any reason you could not get the above steps to work, you can view the delivered examples.

"can" - present/future implied by use of "can" in the second clause.
  
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Goodman  #339616  Thu, 15 Mar 07 04:19 PM
 Bikerdave wrote:

In the following sentence, which is correct, could not or can not?

If for any reason you could not get the above steps to work, you can view the delivered examples.

Can not.

If you said "if you could not get it to work, you [may] want to review the instructions" -Suggestive, could w/ may.

"If you can not get it to work, you need to / should review the instructions" - instructional.

  
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Bird Of Paradise  #339645  Thu, 15 Mar 07 06:53 PM
Very confusing.
What is the difference between can and could. I mean where to use can and where to use could?
  
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I would appreciate it if anyone would correct my grammar mistakes if there are any. ( Even in this sentence.) TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE,
CalifJim  #339651  Thu, 15 Mar 07 07:11 PM
If for any reason you [cannot / could not] get the above steps above to work, you can view the delivered(?) examples.
  Either cannot (one word, by the way) or could not is possible.  It's a matter of present vs. past.  cannot seems all right because you are giving the instructions in the present, as broadly conceived -- during this present operation that you are performing.  could not (meaning failed to) is also OK because you are referring to the past, as narrowly conceived -- during the now-past operation (steps) that you just finished trying to perform.  Personally, I think of the situation as not quite "past enough" to pull in could not, so I would choose cannot.

CJ

  
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Goodman  #339678  Thu, 15 Mar 07 08:18 PM

Just food for thoughts…

I think referring to “could” as past tense may further the confusion. “Could you pass me the salt shaker?” is obviously a question I would ask if I am eating with someone at the dinner table.  By context, it is a present setting. How can it be “past”. However, we can use “could” as a politely suggestive question for someone to pass me the salt, rather than using “can”. Just my 2 cents.

  
CalifJim  #339743  Fri, 16 Mar 07 12:07 AM
"Salty could" is a borrowing of a past tense form into the present for the sake of politeness.  Compare:  Did you want to pass the salt (now), please?  Didn't you have to meet Susan today?

"Failure could not" is the use of a past tense form to describe an event that is truly past.
Although I tried several times, I could not lift the rock. = I failed (past tense) to lift the rock.

The same word can have several different uses.  I don't think this should necessarily be confusing.  It happens all the time. Smile [:)]

CJ

  
Anonymous  #339789  Fri, 16 Mar 07 02:56 AM
i think we use can when accepting to do something,while could come when refusing,
  
Anonymous  #542071  Tue, 15 Jul 08 10:57 PM
Hi,

Which is correct or possibly better?

If for any reason you skip breakfast, you can eat with us now.

If for any reason you skip breakfast, you would be able to (or could) eat with us now.

Thank you. I think the second one fits the normal conditional paradigms (is this word OK here?) better.  
  
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