MichaelLu2000
Member
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2019
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- Chinese
- Home Country
- Taiwan
- Current Location
- Taiwan
This website says that "couldn't" cannot be used to express present or future impossibilities while "could" can be used to refer to present or future possibilities.
https://www.englishcoursemalta.com/learn/can-cant-could-couldnt/
I think about it, and it's indeed weird to see "couldn't" in sentences like:
He just began practicing karate last week. He couldn't beat a blackbelt. (should be can't)
It couldn't be him! It's too early. (should be can't)
It couldn't rain tonight. (should be won't)
If we didn't work together, we couldn't win the game. (should be wouldn't be able to)
If it rained, I couldn't go to your place (should be wouldn't be able to)
Is what this website says true?
https://www.englishcoursemalta.com/learn/can-cant-could-couldnt/
I think about it, and it's indeed weird to see "couldn't" in sentences like:
He just began practicing karate last week. He couldn't beat a blackbelt. (should be can't)
It couldn't be him! It's too early. (should be can't)
It couldn't rain tonight. (should be won't)
If we didn't work together, we couldn't win the game. (should be wouldn't be able to)
If it rained, I couldn't go to your place (should be wouldn't be able to)
Is what this website says true?