Could vs would (again)

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Tung Quoc  #276932  Fri, 06 Oct 06 02:42 PM

Hi,

Milky wrote:

It depends. They both could refer to a past activity or the second one could refer to an activity in general. (1)

Why didn't she write:

It depends. They both would refer to a past activity or the second one would refer to an activity in general. (2)

Please tell me the difference in the uses btw could and would in (1) and (2).

Quoc

  
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Inchoateknowledge  #276935  Fri, 06 Oct 06 02:47 PM
would does not have the connotation of possibility
  
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Marius Hancu  #277010  Fri, 06 Oct 06 05:21 PM
Would would make the sentence conditional from being potential.
A condition would be necessary or implied in using would.
  
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