use of modal verb "could"

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Anonymous

#432058 Thu, 18 Oct 07 02:43 PM

Marius Hancu wrote:
Both past and present/future:

If I enroll in that course, I could, at the end of it, play tennis quite well. Hypothetical future

Dear Marius Hancu,

Shouldn't enroll be enrolled?

Best,

Anonymous

Modal verbs, Modals, Verbs

Grammar Geek

#432060 Thu, 18 Oct 07 02:45 PM

No, your prior post was correct.

I could play tennis well (past). It's possible you still play tennis well because you are referring to a time in the past and it makes no comment about how well you play today. When I was only 10, I could play tennis as well as my coach. But then I broke my wrist and I've never been able to get my game back. OR And I'm still quite good today, although now that I'm 80, I've slowed down a bit.

I can play tennis well (present).

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (15,595)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

Modal verbs, Modals, Verbs

Marius Hancu

#432073 Thu, 18 Oct 07 03:11 PM

Neeraj Jain wrote:
Hi Maris,

If I have just one sentence:

I could play tennis well.

can it be used to refer to the present tense?

Strictly speaking, only to conditional future (or past, of course). See my examples above. Some see that as kind of a present.

Marius Hancu

Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006

Montreal, Canada

Veteran Member (11,673)

Conditionals, Modal verbs, Modals, Present tenses, Tenses, Verbs

Marius Hancu

#432076 Thu, 18 Oct 07 03:14 PM

Anonymous wrote:
Marius Hancu wrote:
Both past and present/future:

If I enroll in that course, I could, at the end of it, play tennis quite well. Hypothetical future

Dear Marius Hancu,

Shouldn't enroll be enrolled?

Best,

Yes, if you want to be more formal and doubtful.

Marius Hancu

Modal verbs, Modals, Verbs

CalifJim

#432175 Thu, 18 Oct 07 08:07 PM

I could play tennis well -- could be interpreted as referring to a person's present state ability -- how he can play tennis well now; but, it could mean how he could play tennis well in the past if some part or parts preceding it or following it indicate that. Right?

Yes, that's right in general. could can mean 1 used to be able to (past) and it can mean 2 would be able to (tentative present or the consequence of a present hypothesis).

1 When Steve was a young man, he could tell the funniest jokes.
2 I could tell you (now) that you are the smartest person in the world, but I don't know if you would believe me.

CJ

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

Veteran Member (16,979)

"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

Jokes, Modal verbs, Modals, Verbs

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