MichaelLu2000
Member
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2019
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- Chinese
- Home Country
- Taiwan
- Current Location
- Taiwan
Example 1
A: He has been feared and reported by many soldiers on the battlefield.
B: I know this guy. He's quite famous and has been mentioned in many reports. The HQ has given him several codenames. The scariest thing he can/could be called is the Reaper.
=>Both can and could are fine. "Can" means among the names that are already given, the Reaper is the scariest. "Could" means among the names that "might" be called, the Repaer is the scariest.
Example 2
A: These people are very superstitious. They will be terrified when they see Mike massacring their comrades with modern weapons.
B: Well, the scariest thing he could be called is probably the Reaper. (He might be called the Reaper when the battle begins, which is the scariest thing)
=>"Could" is better than "Can" here. it means the name that might be given to him during the next battle is "the Reaper." Using "can" would make it sound like he's already qualified for several nicknames.
Is my analysis correct?
A: He has been feared and reported by many soldiers on the battlefield.
B: I know this guy. He's quite famous and has been mentioned in many reports. The HQ has given him several codenames. The scariest thing he can/could be called is the Reaper.
=>Both can and could are fine. "Can" means among the names that are already given, the Reaper is the scariest. "Could" means among the names that "might" be called, the Repaer is the scariest.
Example 2
A: These people are very superstitious. They will be terrified when they see Mike massacring their comrades with modern weapons.
B: Well, the scariest thing he could be called is probably the Reaper. (He might be called the Reaper when the battle begins, which is the scariest thing)
=>"Could" is better than "Can" here. it means the name that might be given to him during the next battle is "the Reaper." Using "can" would make it sound like he's already qualified for several nicknames.
Is my analysis correct?
Last edited: