Can I use "could" in the if-clause of a past parti

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your help and

my questions are:

1. Is the following sentence correct grammatically?
If savings could have been made elsewhere, we would have continued to give financial support to local community service organizations last year.


2. If it is correct, what difference there is between the two following sentences? And can we use the word "could" in if-clause of a past participle sentence?

A. If savings could have been made elsewhere, we would have continued to give financial support to local community service organizations last year.
B. If savings had been made elsewhere, we would have continued to give financial support to local community service organizations last year.

 

[RonBee]

Re: Can I use "could" in the if-clause of a past p

Thank you for your help and

my questions are:

1. Is the following sentence correct grammatically?
If savings could have been made elsewhere, we would have continued to give financial support to local community service organizations last year.

Yes, that one is perfectly fine.

2. If it is correct, what difference there is between the two following sentences? And can we use the word "could" in if-clause of a past participle sentence?

A. If savings could have been made elsewhere, we would have continued to give financial support to local community service organizations last year.
B. If savings had been made elsewhere, we would have continued to give financial support to local community service organizations last year.

The intended meaning of both sentences seems to be the same. Yes, you can use could that way.