'suggestions'

[lindadanca]

Hello,

Suggestions

You could have spent your vacation in Hawaii. (It is past)

You could spend your vacation in Hawaii. (Is it past or present? )

[emsr2d2]

Hello,

Suggestions

You could have spent your vacation in Hawaii. (It is past)

You could spend your vacation in Hawaii. (Is it past or present? )

With the first, it suggests that the person either didn't go on vacation at all or they went somewhere else, so yes, it's in the past.

With the second, it's a statement of fact. The vacation is probably in the future and the person is simply saying that the other person has the opportunity to spend their vacation in Hawaii. The situation is current. The vacation is in the future.

"You could spend [all] your vacations in Hawaii" would refer to vacations now and in the future.

[lindadanca]

Thank you and

Suggestion

You might have tried the cheese cake. (It is past)

You might try the cheesecake. (Is it past? )

Plus, can we use 'may and can' instead of 'might and could' at suggestion for now and future?

Thanks

[emsr2d2]

Please search for similar thread with regards to can/may and could/might. There are LOTS of them!