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Thread: YES! You could do it!!

  1. #1
    sky3120's Avatar
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    Default YES! You could do it!!

    A : I will master English!!

    B : YES! You could do it!!


    If someone says "You could do it", do you think it implies politeness and it sounds more softer and more polite? I think if I hear that expression, I feel like he is doubtful about my goal. What do you think? Thank you so much as usual.

  2. #2
    SoothingDave is offline VIP Member
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    Default Re: YES! You could do it!!

    Softer and more polite than what?

    It's not necessarily doubtful. It could be encouraging. It depends on the tone of voice and the emphasis.
    bhaisahab likes this.

  3. #3
    Gillnetter is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: YES! You could do it!!

    Quote Originally Posted by sky3120 View Post
    A : I will master English!!

    B : YES! You could do it!!


    If someone says "You could do it", do you think it implies politeness and it sounds more softer and more polite (compared to what?)? I think if I hear that expression, I feel like he is doubtful about my goal. What do you think? Thank you so much as usual.
    If he really believes that you can do it - "Yes, you can do it"!
    "you could do it" implies something akin to it is possible if certain conditions are met. "You could do it if you studied more".
    Barb_D likes this.

  4. #4
    Barb_D's Avatar
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    Default Re: YES! You could do it!!

    I feel it needs "can" unless the other person is giving a condition: You could do it if you applied yourself every day.
    emsr2d2 and 5jj like this.
    I'm not a teacher, but I write for a living. Please don't ask me about 2nd conditionals, but I'm a safe bet for what reads well in (American) English.

  5. #5
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    Default Re: YES! You could do it!!

    I agree. "You can do it" suggests that you have great faith in the person's ability to do it. "You could do it" sounds as if you are a little more unsure of their chances of success but you are trying to be encouraging anyway.
    Remember - correct capitalisation, punctuation and spacing make posts much easier to read.

  6. #6
    bhaisahab's Avatar
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    Default Re: YES! You could do it!!

    I agree with SoothingDave, it depends on the tone of voice and where the emphasis is placed.

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