Hypothetical + permission

[GentleBoy]

Are these hypothetical sentences correct if "could" is used here for "permission (or allowed to)".

I am wondering if I should use "could have" instead.

1. You could use the room if the event was not going on. But I am sorry.


2. I could apply for the post if I was younger.


Thanks,
GentleBoy

 

[probus]

1. You could have used the room if the event was not going on.

That is fine.

2. I could have applied for the post if I was younger.

That is also fine.

Neither case has anything to do with permission. "Could have" is a statement about the past, while your originals were statements about the present.

 

[billmcd]

Are these hypothetical sentences correct if "could" is used here for "permission (or allowed to)".

I am wondering if I should use "could have" instead.

1. You could use the room if the event was not going on. But I am sorry.

You could use the room if the room is not going on (or "being used" or "reserved" would be better). (future, no "sorry"))
You could have used the room if the room had not been going on ("used", "reserved" would be better) . (past)


2. I could apply for the post if I [STRIKE] was [/STRIKE] were younger. (possibility/future)I could have applied for the post if I had been younger. (past)

Thanks,
GentleBoy

b.

 

[5jj]

I could apply for the post if I waswere younger.

Many speakers of BrE would accept 'was' there.

 

[probus]

Many speakers of BrE would accept 'was' there.

Many speakers of AmE too.

 

[GentleBoy]

I am sorry . I am not clear. Actually the context I am considering is "PERMISSION".

Example-

[Talking about permission in the past]

"I could use his room when he was not there in the city." (Meaning - I am permitted to /allowed to use his room....)


Same thing (i.e talking about permission) if we consider in a hypothetical context can we make sentence like following ?

"I could use his room if he was not there in the city. But now I can't. He has come here for a week. "

The above sentence is right/ wrong in this context ?

 

[5jj]

The above sentence is right/ wrong in this context ?

Only context can establish whether your sentences are acceptable or not.

I am not asking you for more context. I am merely saying that, in the right context, your interpretation of the meaning of 'could' is possible.

 

[GentleBoy]

Only context can establish whether your sentences are acceptable or not.

I am not asking you for more context. I am merely saying that, in the right context, your interpretation of the meaning of 'could' is possible.

So, Are you saying the following sentence is correct ?

"I could use his room if he was not there in the city. But now I can't. He has come here for a week. "

 

[emsr2d2]

So, Are you saying the following sentence is correct ?

"I could use his room if he was not there in the city. But now I can't. He has come here for a week. "

It's very unclear. Where is "there"? Where is "here"? Is the city "here" or "there"?

This is how I interpret what you said:
I can use his room when he's out of town. I could have used it this week but he's around so I can't.