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- Mar 14, 2020
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It is said by some English websites that the modal verb "could" is generally understood as expressing two types of possibility. a) Factual/real possibility and b) Hypothetical/imagined possibility.
Now https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/could gives this definition for "could", followed by examples:
"Could" is used to express possibility, especially slight or uncertain possibility:
1) She could arrive anytime now.
2) Be careful with that stick - you could have hit your sister!
3) I could have been an actor.
a) Can I say that "could" in sentence 1), is indicating "factual possibility", whereas, in sentence 2) and 3), it is indicating "hypothetical possibility"?
b) Did the action of hitting in sentence 2) and my becoming an actor in sentence 3) not take place?
Now https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/could gives this definition for "could", followed by examples:
"Could" is used to express possibility, especially slight or uncertain possibility:
1) She could arrive anytime now.
2) Be careful with that stick - you could have hit your sister!
3) I could have been an actor.
a) Can I say that "could" in sentence 1), is indicating "factual possibility", whereas, in sentence 2) and 3), it is indicating "hypothetical possibility"?
b) Did the action of hitting in sentence 2) and my becoming an actor in sentence 3) not take place?
