jutfrank
VIP Member
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2014
- Member Type
- English Teacher
- Native Language
- English
- Home Country
- England
- Current Location
- England
Here's my take on the examples from post #35.
10) The writer is relating a story about a past event, so he uses could to show past time ability. He was literally trying to imagine what had happened.
11) I don't think this one is really about a past ability to imagine anything. The writer probably wasn't trying to imagine anything.
12) I think this one is identical to 11. I think the writer is just trying to stress how much the hurricane affected her.
13) I think the writer really was trying to imagine the man's Christmas. It's similar to 10.
10) The writer is relating a story about a past event, so he uses could to show past time ability. He was literally trying to imagine what had happened.
11) I don't think this one is really about a past ability to imagine anything. The writer probably wasn't trying to imagine anything.
12) I think this one is identical to 11. I think the writer is just trying to stress how much the hurricane affected her.
13) I think the writer really was trying to imagine the man's Christmas. It's similar to 10.