Can I use 'could' to talk about negative possibilities?
In this video (at 3:43) some guy told me that I can't use 'could' to talk about negative possibilities. Is it true? If so, why?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMGxeChtYLc
They might not be ready.
He may not be able to help you.
The guy said that there is no way to use 'could' in these sentences.
grammar modal-verbs
asked 10 hours ago
Oleksiy Plotnyts'kyyOleksiy Plotnyts'kyy
113
|
show 2 more comments
In this video (at 3:43) some guy told me that I can't use 'could' to talk about negative possibilities. Is it true? If so, why?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMGxeChtYLc
They might not be ready.
He may not be able to help you.
The guy said that there is no way to use 'could' in these sentences.
grammar modal-verbs
asked 10 hours ago
Oleksiy Plotnyts'kyyOleksiy Plotnyts'kyy
113
Please edit your question to make it clearer what exactly you’re asking. What is a negative possibility? Please provide an example sentence to show what type of context you’re asking about.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
9 hours ago
Could? (with a question mark)...it shows doubt.
– user22542
9 hours ago
Could you clarify what you mean?
– Oleksiy Plotnyts'kyy
9 hours ago
That's a long video. Please say at what time he says that. As native speakers we don't want to listen to the whole thing. Thanks.
– chasly from UK
9 hours ago
If you use 'could [not]', you automatically get an impossibility (A was not possible), as opposed to a 'negative possibility' (not-A is possible).
– Keep these mind
9 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
In this video (at 3:43) some guy told me that I can't use 'could' to talk about negative possibilities. Is it true? If so, why?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMGxeChtYLc
They might not be ready.
He may not be able to help you.
The guy said that there is no way to use 'could' in these sentences.
grammar modal-verbs
asked 10 hours ago
Oleksiy Plotnyts'kyyOleksiy Plotnyts'kyy
113
In this video (at 3:43) some guy told me that I can't use 'could' to talk about negative possibilities. Is it true? If so, why?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMGxeChtYLc
They might not be ready.
He may not be able to help you.
The guy said that there is no way to use 'could' in these sentences.
grammar modal-verbs
grammar modal-verbs
asked 10 hours ago
Oleksiy Plotnyts'kyyOleksiy Plotnyts'kyy
113
asked 10 hours ago
Oleksiy Plotnyts'kyyOleksiy Plotnyts'kyy
113
edited 9 hours ago
Oleksiy Plotnyts'kyy
asked 10 hours ago
Oleksiy Plotnyts'kyyOleksiy Plotnyts'kyy
113
asked 10 hours ago
Oleksiy Plotnyts'kyyOleksiy Plotnyts'kyy
113
asked 10 hours ago
Oleksiy Plotnyts'kyyOleksiy Plotnyts'kyy
113
113
Please edit your question to make it clearer what exactly you’re asking. What is a negative possibility? Please provide an example sentence to show what type of context you’re asking about.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
9 hours ago
Could? (with a question mark)...it shows doubt.
– user22542
9 hours ago
Could you clarify what you mean?
– Oleksiy Plotnyts'kyy
9 hours ago
That's a long video. Please say at what time he says that. As native speakers we don't want to listen to the whole thing. Thanks.
– chasly from UK
9 hours ago
If you use 'could [not]', you automatically get an impossibility (A was not possible), as opposed to a 'negative possibility' (not-A is possible).
– Keep these mind
9 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
Please edit your question to make it clearer what exactly you’re asking. What is a negative possibility? Please provide an example sentence to show what type of context you’re asking about.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
9 hours ago
Could? (with a question mark)...it shows doubt.
– user22542
9 hours ago
Could you clarify what you mean?
– Oleksiy Plotnyts'kyy
9 hours ago
That's a long video. Please say at what time he says that. As native speakers we don't want to listen to the whole thing. Thanks.
– chasly from UK
9 hours ago
If you use 'could [not]', you automatically get an impossibility (A was not possible), as opposed to a 'negative possibility' (not-A is possible).
– Keep these mind
9 hours ago
Please edit your question to make it clearer what exactly you’re asking. What is a negative possibility? Please provide an example sentence to show what type of context you’re asking about.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
9 hours ago
Please edit your question to make it clearer what exactly you’re asking. What is a negative possibility? Please provide an example sentence to show what type of context you’re asking about.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
9 hours ago
Could? (with a question mark)...it shows doubt.
– user22542
9 hours ago
Could? (with a question mark)...it shows doubt.
– user22542
9 hours ago
Could you clarify what you mean?
– Oleksiy Plotnyts'kyy
9 hours ago
Could you clarify what you mean?
– Oleksiy Plotnyts'kyy
9 hours ago
That's a long video. Please say at what time he says that. As native speakers we don't want to listen to the whole thing. Thanks.
– chasly from UK
9 hours ago
That's a long video. Please say at what time he says that. As native speakers we don't want to listen to the whole thing. Thanks.
– chasly from UK
9 hours ago
If you use 'could [not]', you automatically get an impossibility (A was not possible), as opposed to a 'negative possibility' (not-A is possible).
– Keep these mind
9 hours ago
If you use 'could [not]', you automatically get an impossibility (A was not possible), as opposed to a 'negative possibility' (not-A is possible).
– Keep these mind
9 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
1 Answer
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I see no reason why you can't recast both of those sentences to use could while preserving their meaning:
They might not be ready.
🠆 They could be unprepared.
He may not be able to help you.
🠆 He could be unable to help you.
We replace might not or may not with could, and replace the positive statement with a negative statement (be ready becomes be unprepared and be able to becomes be unable to).
answered 2 hours ago
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
16.9k32042
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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active
oldest
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
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votes
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oldest
votes
I see no reason why you can't recast both of those sentences to use could while preserving their meaning:
They might not be ready.
🠆 They could be unprepared.
He may not be able to help you.
🠆 He could be unable to help you.
We replace might not or may not with could, and replace the positive statement with a negative statement (be ready becomes be unprepared and be able to becomes be unable to).
answered 2 hours ago
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
16.9k32042
add a comment |
I see no reason why you can't recast both of those sentences to use could while preserving their meaning:
They might not be ready.
🠆 They could be unprepared.
He may not be able to help you.
🠆 He could be unable to help you.
We replace might not or may not with could, and replace the positive statement with a negative statement (be ready becomes be unprepared and be able to becomes be unable to).
answered 2 hours ago
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
16.9k32042
add a comment |
I see no reason why you can't recast both of those sentences to use could while preserving their meaning:
They might not be ready.
🠆 They could be unprepared.
He may not be able to help you.
🠆 He could be unable to help you.
We replace might not or may not with could, and replace the positive statement with a negative statement (be ready becomes be unprepared and be able to becomes be unable to).
answered 2 hours ago
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
16.9k32042
I see no reason why you can't recast both of those sentences to use could while preserving their meaning:
They might not be ready.
🠆 They could be unprepared.
He may not be able to help you.
🠆 He could be unable to help you.
We replace might not or may not with could, and replace the positive statement with a negative statement (be ready becomes be unprepared and be able to becomes be unable to).
answered 2 hours ago
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
16.9k32042
answered 2 hours ago
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
16.9k32042
answered 2 hours ago
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
16.9k32042
answered 2 hours ago
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
16.9k32042
16.9k32042
add a comment |
add a comment |
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Please edit your question to make it clearer what exactly you’re asking. What is a negative possibility? Please provide an example sentence to show what type of context you’re asking about.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
9 hours ago
Could? (with a question mark)...it shows doubt.
– user22542
9 hours ago
Could you clarify what you mean?
– Oleksiy Plotnyts'kyy
9 hours ago
That's a long video. Please say at what time he says that. As native speakers we don't want to listen to the whole thing. Thanks.
– chasly from UK
9 hours ago
If you use 'could [not]', you automatically get an impossibility (A was not possible), as opposed to a 'negative possibility' (not-A is possible).
– Keep these mind
9 hours ago