Sorry, this question is little long. If you don't mind, please help me.
Apr 06th 2010 00:31
I can't understand how to use the word "could" and "be able to".
私はcanとbe able toの使い方が理解できません。
Today, I read an English grammar blog.
今日、ある英文法のブログを読みました。
That blog said...
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
After she studied hard, she was finally able to pass the entrance exam.
（彼女は一生懸命勉強して、ついに入学試験に合格することができました。）
この意味においてはcouldを用いることができない。もしもこの例をcouldで書き換えたとするなら、それは過去において入学試験に合格をする能力があったという意味だけが生じ、実際に合格したかどうかは不明のままになる
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
↑ The blog said...
In this case, you cannot use "could".
If you use "could", It's not clear "pass" or "failure".
..............Really?
・・・・・・・・本当に？
However, I found the following sentence.
でも、以下の文も見つけました。
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
I could reach so far in such a scanting of time.
こんなわずかな時間でこんなに遠くまで来ることができた。
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
Is this sentence not clear?
この文は不明確ですか？
Can I use the word "could"?
couldを使ってもいいのですか？
Thinking from the grammar blog, I think that I cannot use "could".
英文法ブログから考えると、couldは使えないと思うのですが・・・。
"I was able to reach so far in such a scanting of time" is correct?
"I was able to reach so far in such a scanting of time"が正しいのでしょうか？
If you don't mind, please tell me.
^^
Thank you!
私はcanとbe able toの使い方が理解できません。
Today, I read an English grammar blog.
今日、ある英文法のブログを読みました。
That blog said...
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
After she studied hard, she was finally able to pass the entrance exam.
（彼女は一生懸命勉強して、ついに入学試験に合格することができました。）
この意味においてはcouldを用いることができない。もしもこの例をcouldで書き換えたとするなら、それは過去において入学試験に合格をする能力があったという意味だけが生じ、実際に合格したかどうかは不明のままになる
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
↑ The blog said...
In this case, you cannot use "could".
If you use "could", It's not clear "pass" or "failure".
..............Really?
・・・・・・・・本当に？
However, I found the following sentence.
でも、以下の文も見つけました。
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
I could reach so far in such a scanting of time.
こんなわずかな時間でこんなに遠くまで来ることができた。
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
Is this sentence not clear?
この文は不明確ですか？
Can I use the word "could"?
couldを使ってもいいのですか？
Thinking from the grammar blog, I think that I cannot use "could".
英文法ブログから考えると、couldは使えないと思うのですが・・・。
"I was able to reach so far in such a scanting of time" is correct?
"I was able to reach so far in such a scanting of time"が正しいのでしょうか？
If you don't mind, please tell me.
^^
Thank you!
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B I could reach so far in such a scanting of time
両方の文章は正しいです。
文章Aについては, 上記のブログのコメントに加えて、"able to pass" を "could pass"に変えないもう一つの理由は,Could pass "は可能動詞で未来形です。”finally”（やっと、ついに、）があるから、 基本的に文章は過去形になるはずです。
文章Bの方は”able"も使えますがやはり、"could"の方が最も自然な言い方だとおもいます。
I am able reach so far in such a scanting of time.
Saying, "I COULD go so far in such a small amount of time" (or I could reach so far in such a scanting of time) gives the impression that it is "possible" for you to reach or go far (but haven't yet).
I could do X = It is possible to do X.
I was able to do X = I could and DID do X.
"scanting"と言うのは、かなり古臭い言葉だと思う。このごろは、あまり使っていない。
Terryさんの教えるのは上手です。
よく、過去形で「could」を使ったら、ニュアンスは「でも、しませんでした」です。
例：
If I had known maths was hard for you, I could have studied with you.
ニュアンスは、However, since I didn't know maths was hard for you, I didn't study with you
I wish I had known it would rain today, I could have brought an umbrella.
ニュアンスは、However, I didn't know it would rain today, so I didn't bring an umbrella.
でも、必ずしもそれような使いません。
After Ahti Heinla realised that telephone calls could be transmitted through the internet, Skype was created.
もう大丈夫です。
I thought that B is wrong until reading your comment.
In case of B, It's OK "be able to" too.
However, "Could" is natural, isn't it?
I know following things.
It's not use with like "shall" and "might" etc.
Usually, A present form doesn't use "be able to" etc.
I cannot use "could" and "be able to"...
＞if you used could, "After studying hard, she could've passed the test, but she didn't take it due to being ill".
やっぱりそうですか・・・。
I should be careful use the word "could", otherwise, I'm misunderstood.Right?
Thank you!
>Saying, "I COULD go so far in such a small amount of time" (or I could reach so far in such a scanting of time) gives the impression that it is "possible" for you to reach or go far (but haven't yet).
Oh really?
If I use "could" in a past sentence, I should note about "possible" means.Right?
However the more I thought about it, I'm confuse!
Thank you.
>よく、過去形で「could」を使ったら、ニュアンスは「でも、しませんでした」です。
>でも、必ずしもそれような使いません。
Well,so, If I want to say "I did it", I want to use "be able to" in the past form all the time. Is it OK?I thought so...It's easy.
『できた』という可能性だけを話すとき、いつも私はbe able toを使ってもいいですか？
I thought that the past form of "can" is "could".
It's wrong, right?
I thought that "can" is できる, and "could" is できた.
It's wrong, right?
Without limited case, I must not use "could" as a past form of "can".
Right?
勉強になりました。
私は、be able to とcan をどう使い分けてるのかを知りたい！
You are right that 'could' is the past tense of 'can'. But it can also have the conditional meaning 'might'.
I can drive a car.
I could drive a car = at that time (in the past) I was able to drive a car OR I might drive the car (if I feel like it or you give me a good reason)
In order to avoid the confusion, it seems that people will use 'was able to' but grammatically it must be correct to use either.
After cleaning her windows, she could see across the street.
After she studied hard, she could speak French
I could see a shark in the water = I was able to see a shark in the water
We use 'scant' (though rarely) 'We were scant of breath after the lengthy climb'
We use 'scantily' (about being dressed) 'They were scantily clad (dressed)'
I have a quiestion again.
I thought that I understood how to use "could" and "be able to".
Your illustrative sentence...After she studied hard, she could speak French.
Is that means..『フランス語を話すことができただろう。』?
So, I have a quiestion about "After she studied hard"
After she studied hard = If she studied hard ?
If I guessed right, I can announced that I understood all....
コメントの返事が前後しちゃいました＾＾；
今日、会社で書いてもらったコメントをみんなで読んで、何とか理解できたような気がしてます。
ちょっと前進したかも♪
勉強した後で (I hope this is ok Japanese)
If I had used 'if' then 'could' would have been a conditional.
If she studied hard, she could speak French (but she doesn't study hard so she won't be able to speak French)
勉強するなら..... (again, I hope this is ok Japanese)
Hmmmm
＞After she studied hard, she could speak French.
So, If I will translate, is 彼女はよく勉強した後で、フランス語を話せただろう(but I don't know.) correct?
Is it 推測と可能性(guess and possible)?
Now, If I finished thinking about this problem without I understand it, I will not understand it whole life long.
今、この違いを理解しようとするのをやめたら、おそらく私は一生これをわからないままだと思う・・・。