optimistic pessimist
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2008
- Member Type
- Native Language
- Japanese
- Home Country
- Japan
- Current Location
- Japan
Dear all,
Let's say there is a woman who survived a car crash miraculously and she says the following line to a friend of hers.
"If I could come out of that(the car crash) alive and in one piece,
it must be because He is watching over me up there."
I don't understand the nuance of "could". Does it mean "was able to" in other words?
Or does it simply mean "can" indirectly?
OP
Let's say there is a woman who survived a car crash miraculously and she says the following line to a friend of hers.
"If I could come out of that(the car crash) alive and in one piece,
it must be because He is watching over me up there."
I don't understand the nuance of "could". Does it mean "was able to" in other words?
Or does it simply mean "can" indirectly?
OP
