The rebels [could / were able to] draw on the support of over 20,000 soldiers
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I don't understand why both are correct answers.
Isn't it supposed to use [be able to] rather than [could] if the situation is a specific event in a specific moment, which I think is this case?
For example, be able to is correct, not could, in this sentence : We [were able to] finish the football match before it started snowing too heavily.
By the way, this is a question from Advanced grammar in use.
Please let me know what I am missing. Thank you.
word-choice could can-vs-be-able
asked Oct 22 at 22:03
urggggh
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I don't understand why both are correct answers.
Isn't it supposed to use [be able to] rather than [could] if the situation is a specific event in a specific moment, which I think is this case?
For example, be able to is correct, not could, in this sentence : We [were able to] finish the football match before it started snowing too heavily.
By the way, this is a question from Advanced grammar in use.
Please let me know what I am missing. Thank you.
word-choice could can-vs-be-able
asked Oct 22 at 22:03
urggggh
61
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ yesterday
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
I don't understand why both are correct answers.
Isn't it supposed to use [be able to] rather than [could] if the situation is a specific event in a specific moment, which I think is this case?
For example, be able to is correct, not could, in this sentence : We [were able to] finish the football match before it started snowing too heavily.
By the way, this is a question from Advanced grammar in use.
Please let me know what I am missing. Thank you.
word-choice could can-vs-be-able
asked Oct 22 at 22:03
urggggh
61
I don't understand why both are correct answers.
Isn't it supposed to use [be able to] rather than [could] if the situation is a specific event in a specific moment, which I think is this case?
For example, be able to is correct, not could, in this sentence : We [were able to] finish the football match before it started snowing too heavily.
By the way, this is a question from Advanced grammar in use.
Please let me know what I am missing. Thank you.
word-choice could can-vs-be-able
word-choice could can-vs-be-able
asked Oct 22 at 22:03
urggggh
61
asked Oct 22 at 22:03
urggggh
61
asked Oct 22 at 22:03
urggggh
61
asked Oct 22 at 22:03
urggggh
61
asked Oct 22 at 22:03
urggggh
61
61
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ yesterday
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ yesterday
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
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Let's say the rebels had convinced 20k soldiers that their cause was a noble one but told them to not say anything and just continue to pretend to be loyal soldiers. In this case, the rebels could draw on the support of over 20,000 soldiers, but choose not to.
Later, perhaps, during a battle which they were losing, the rebels were able to draw on the support of over 20,000 soldiers and thus emerged victorious.
answered Oct 23 at 16:58
Roger Sinasohn
9,73611949
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Could is a conditional and past tense indicator of can so therefore,
Could means both "were able to" and "would be able to"
I believe your confusion is involving the unique dual tense usage of this verb.
answered Oct 23 at 17:05
Karlomanio
45226
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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Let's say the rebels had convinced 20k soldiers that their cause was a noble one but told them to not say anything and just continue to pretend to be loyal soldiers. In this case, the rebels could draw on the support of over 20,000 soldiers, but choose not to.
Later, perhaps, during a battle which they were losing, the rebels were able to draw on the support of over 20,000 soldiers and thus emerged victorious.
answered Oct 23 at 16:58
Roger Sinasohn
9,73611949
add a comment |
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Let's say the rebels had convinced 20k soldiers that their cause was a noble one but told them to not say anything and just continue to pretend to be loyal soldiers. In this case, the rebels could draw on the support of over 20,000 soldiers, but choose not to.
Later, perhaps, during a battle which they were losing, the rebels were able to draw on the support of over 20,000 soldiers and thus emerged victorious.
answered Oct 23 at 16:58
Roger Sinasohn
9,73611949
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
Let's say the rebels had convinced 20k soldiers that their cause was a noble one but told them to not say anything and just continue to pretend to be loyal soldiers. In this case, the rebels could draw on the support of over 20,000 soldiers, but choose not to.
Later, perhaps, during a battle which they were losing, the rebels were able to draw on the support of over 20,000 soldiers and thus emerged victorious.
answered Oct 23 at 16:58
Roger Sinasohn
9,73611949
Let's say the rebels had convinced 20k soldiers that their cause was a noble one but told them to not say anything and just continue to pretend to be loyal soldiers. In this case, the rebels could draw on the support of over 20,000 soldiers, but choose not to.
Later, perhaps, during a battle which they were losing, the rebels were able to draw on the support of over 20,000 soldiers and thus emerged victorious.
answered Oct 23 at 16:58
Roger Sinasohn
9,73611949
answered Oct 23 at 16:58
Roger Sinasohn
9,73611949
answered Oct 23 at 16:58
Roger Sinasohn
9,73611949
answered Oct 23 at 16:58
Roger Sinasohn
9,73611949
9,73611949
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
Could is a conditional and past tense indicator of can so therefore,
Could means both "were able to" and "would be able to"
I believe your confusion is involving the unique dual tense usage of this verb.
answered Oct 23 at 17:05
Karlomanio
45226
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
Could is a conditional and past tense indicator of can so therefore,
Could means both "were able to" and "would be able to"
I believe your confusion is involving the unique dual tense usage of this verb.
answered Oct 23 at 17:05
Karlomanio
45226
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
Could is a conditional and past tense indicator of can so therefore,
Could means both "were able to" and "would be able to"
I believe your confusion is involving the unique dual tense usage of this verb.
answered Oct 23 at 17:05
Karlomanio
45226
Could is a conditional and past tense indicator of can so therefore,
Could means both "were able to" and "would be able to"
I believe your confusion is involving the unique dual tense usage of this verb.
answered Oct 23 at 17:05
Karlomanio
45226
edited Oct 23 at 17:10
answered Oct 23 at 17:05
Karlomanio
45226
answered Oct 23 at 17:05
Karlomanio
45226
answered Oct 23 at 17:05
Karlomanio
45226
45226
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