Can - Revision history

Sashi: /* Usage difference between can & can't to express probability */

2020-08-24T18:31:09Z

‎Usage difference between can & can't to express probability

2020-08-24T18:30:18Z

‎Usage difference between can & can't to express probability

2020-08-24T18:29:13Z

‎Usage difference between can & can't to express probability

2020-08-24T18:03:49Z

‎Usage difference between can & can't to express probability

2020-08-24T18:02:55Z

‎Differences between can & can't

2020-08-24T18:00:15Z

‎syntax & semantics

2020-04-13T14:59:45Z

‎periphrastics

2020-04-13T14:57:59Z

‎periphrastics

2020-04-13T14:57:20Z

‎periphrastics

2020-04-13T14:56:26Z

‎periphrastics

@@ Line 94: / Line 94: @@
 *''can't'' is sometimes used to say there is a 0% chance that something is the case:
 ::&mdash;Where's my bag?  Have you seen it?
-::&mdash;No, but it <span style=color:#402;">could</span> be in the car.
+::&mdash;No, but it '''<span style=color:#402;">could</span>''' be in the car.
-::&mdash;My bag <span style=color:#402;">can't</span> be in the car because I had it when we bought the sodas.
+::&mdash;No, it '''<span style=color:#402;">can't</span>''' be in the car because I had it when we bought the sodas.
 ''could'' or ''might'' can be used interchangeably in the second sentence; ''can'', however would be incorrect.
-::&mdash;Be careful climbing that tree.  You <span style=color:#402;">could</span> fall.
+::&mdash;Be careful climbing that tree.  You <span style=color:#402;">'''could'''</span> fall.
-::&mdash;Well, maybe I just won't climb it.  If I don't climb it, I <span style=color:#402;">can't</span> fall from it, that much is certain!
+::&mdash;Well, maybe I just won't climb it.  If I don't climb it, I <span style=color:#402;">'''can't'''</span> fall from it, that much is certain!
 [[Category: 100-en]]

@@ Line 100: / Line 100: @@
 ::&mdash;Be careful climbing that tree.  You <span style=color:#402;">could</span> fall.
-::&mdash;Well, maybe I just won't climb it.  If I don't climb it, I <span style=color:#402;">can't</span> fall from it, after all.
+::&mdash;Well, maybe I just won't climb it.  If I don't climb it, I <span style=color:#402;">can't</span> fall from it, that much is certain!
 [[Category: 100-en]]

@@ Line 94: / Line 94: @@
 *''can't'' is sometimes used to say there is a 0% chance that something is the case:
 ::&mdash;Where's my bag?  Have you seen it?
-::&mdash;No, but it *could* be in the car.
+::&mdash;No, but it <span style=color:#402;">could</span> be in the car.
-::&mdash;My bag *can't* be in the car because I had it when we bought the sodas.
+::&mdash;My bag <span style=color:#402;">can't</span> be in the car because I had it when we bought the sodas.
 ''could'' or ''might'' can be used interchangeably in the second sentence; ''can'', however would be incorrect.
-::&mdash;Be careful climbing that tree.  You *could* fall.
+::&mdash;Be careful climbing that tree.  You <span style=color:#402;">could</span> fall.
-::&mdash;Well, maybe I just won't climb it.  If I don't climb it, I *can't* fall from it, after all.
+::&mdash;Well, maybe I just won't climb it.  If I don't climb it, I <span style=color:#402;">can't</span> fall from it, after all.
 [[Category: 100-en]]

@@ Line 91: / Line 91: @@
 |}
 ==Usage difference between ''can'' & ''can't'' to express probability==
-*''can'' is not used to assess the probability that something is true or not.
+*''can'' is '''not''' used to assess the probability that something is true or not.
-*''can't'' is used to ascribe a 0% chance that something is the case:
+*''can't'' is sometimes used to say there is a 0% chance that something is the case:
 ::&mdash;Where's my bag?  Have you seen it?
 ::&mdash;No, but it *could* be in the car.

@@ Line 78: / Line 78: @@
 |-
@@ Line 101: / Line 90: @@
 |-
 |}
 [[Category: 100-en]]

@@ Line 77: / Line 77: @@
 |scope="col" | value judgement / necessity
 |-
 ! style="background-color:#3D001F; color:#FEFEF2;"| may

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 ''Could'' can also be used for a hypothetical future.  However, strangely, ''couldn't'' cannot be used for a negative hypothetical future.
 *I could come to your office once the lockdown ends.
-*<s>I couldn't come to your office once the lockdown ends.</s>
+*<s style="color:#999;">I couldn't come to your office once the lockdown ends.</s>
 *I could send it to you by email.  (if you would like)
-*<s>I couldn't send it to you by email.</s> <-- necessarily interpreted as the past tense (''je ne pouvais pas te l'envoyer par mél.'')
+*<s style="color:#999;">I couldn't send it to you by email.</s> <-- necessarily interpreted as the past tense (''je ne pouvais pas te l'envoyer par mél.'')
 In the past (and the conditional <span style="font-size:70%;">or "future of the past"</span>) "be able to" may be used.

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 *would(n't) be able to
-''Couldn't'' can also be used for the past tense.  However, ''could'' is not generally used for the past tense (except with the <span style="color:#066;font-weight:bold;">perfect infinitive</span>, or with "only")
+''Couldn't'' can also be used for the past tense.  However, ''could'' is not generally used for the past tense (except with the <span style="color:#066;font-weight:bold;">perfect infinitive</span>, or with focusing adverbs like "only" or "even")
 *I couldn't come to your office in April 2020 because of the lockdown.
 *I could only see my clients using Zoom, Whatsapp or Skype in April 2020.

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 One of the most important/frequent periphrastics in English is '''be able to'''.  <span style="color:#033;">bɪ<sup>j</sup>eɪbəltə</span>
-''Can'' is used in the present tense only.
+''Can'' is used in the present tense only, though it can refer to the future (which is not a tense).
-In both the future and the past (and the conditional <span style="font-size:70%;">or "future of the past"</span>) "be able to" is used.
+It is possible, but not necessary to use ''will be able to'' instead of ''can'' to speak of the future.
-*will/won't be able to
+*I'll be able to come tomorrow.
 *was(n't)/were(n't) able to
 *would(n't) be able to