tedmc
VIP Member
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2014
- Member Type
- Interested in Language
- Native Language
- Chinese
- Home Country
- Malaysia
- Current Location
- Malaysia
I'm sorry, but I don't see the point you are trying to make.
You said earlier that we hoped for a certainty, and I pointed out that this was not so.
We do indeed hope for something positive - that is part of the meaning of the verb.
We can hope for something probable. In the recent elections in America, both Republicans and Democrats hoped for success for their candidates. Many would have thought that the success they hoped for was probable.
How would you explain the preference of can to could then?