I like this question. It's really about nuance and subtle differences. In a very basic way, you can say that 'can' is stronger, based on actual facts. Could is based on opinion and theory. By definition, can is referring to the

I just want to point out the word "could" is indicative of the subjunctive mood Modal verbs don't have tenses and moods in the way that other verbs do. could certainly acts like a past subjunctive in If I could help you, I would.

Here's how it should be: Jackson would have celebrated his fiftieth birthday this August if he were alive . Jackson would have celebrated his fiftieth birthday this August if he had not died earlier this year . There are a

"If you knew what I had gone through, you would surely pity me." Don't listen to these people. You can change it to "have" because only the first verb has to be in the subjunctive mood. The verb "knew" is

It can be put in present perfect and past perfect using "if" like this: If the train have already left , we shall/will take the next train. (formal present perfect subjunctive) If the train had already left , we should/would

Why should we use 'would' ,'could' in the subjunctive mood and in the future tense? It's very confusing. Please make it simple and help me understand. for example, - I'd love to do it. - We could, we

Now if I look up "are," the dictionary tells me that it is the present plural of "be." But what I would expect is that it would tell me that it is the present plural of "am" or "is" because those are the

Hi p0101 and welcome to English Forums. "Were" is the past tense of "are." I am I was You are You were He is He was We are We were They are They were Sometimes we use something called the subjunctive. Usually

Why is the subjunctive mood is not applicable for this sentence? It is applicable, but were after if is not the only case of subjunctive. had been lured is also subjunctive. All past perfect tenses double as past subjunctives. You can consider a

I wish... happened now is not correct. You can say It would be nice if ... happened now or I hope ... happens now or I wish ... would happen now. However, I wish... happened refers to something in the past, not "now" or in the