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Difference between could help or could have helped?

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Latest post Wed, Jul 22 2009 7:56 AM by Anonymous. 3 replies.
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Anonymous  +  827084 Mon, 20 Jul 09 04:50 AM
Hi. I think the use of "could save" is correct because I think it could be used in a time context that is before the past (so to speak, if I say it right), but have a hard time thinking of the difference between the two (please look at the underlined part). Could it be the subordinate clause part of an adjectival clause (I think it is) "that it could have helped them" usually (or never???) stays in a past tense when the tense in the main clause of an adjectival clause(I think it is) is in a past perfect tense? 

 

The people who had hoped that it could help/could have helped them were now convinced that nothing short of financial help could help them.   
Anonymous
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Anonymous, 126 days ago
"The people who had hoped" is in the pluperfect tense (or as you put it, "before the past") However, this is academic because as they were hoping it must have been for something that at the time had not happened. (You cannot hope for something that has already happened). Therefore, they must have been hoping that it could help.

However, if your sentence had begun "The people who had thought", then it might be either, depending on whether they were looking back to an unfulfilled hope (could have helped) or still optimistic (could help).

Hope this helps.

Simon Stanley.

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Goodman  +  828454 Tue, 21 Jul 09 06:31 AM

,,'res','2','&sig2=ZSHbLHStlQdHn2a1h75tEQ')" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subjunctive_mood">Subjunctive mood - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

English: Had we known (pluperfect subjunctive), we could have prevented (conditional perfect) it. Everyday modern French: Si on l'avait su (pluperfect ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subjunctive_mood - ,,'clnk','2','&sig2=BaIr2Qe0hHwCUZO-ps9O6w')" href="http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache:ofKlMhhYOxwJ:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subjunctive_mood+%22could+have%22+subjunctive&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&ie=UTF-8">Cached - Similar
 
I could have completed the project on time had you not mess it up. This is a subjunctive context. The fact is I didn't complete the project. Period!
 
I think I could get the proposal done if you give me till 5 pm. This is a conditional context.
Goodman
Joined on Mon, Nov 7 2005
Senior Member 3,816
The name says it all!
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Anonymous, 125 days ago

 Thank you, Goodman and Simon.

 

Goodman's sentence in his response:

 

I think I could get the proposal done if you give me till 5 pm.
 

 

Goodman, shouldn't your sentence in your response be this?

 

I think I could get the proposal done if you give gave me till 5 pm.
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