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    Were able ou could/aide

    Cours gratuits > Forum > Forum anglais: Questions sur l'anglais || En bas

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    Were able ou could/aide
    Message de mel_gigi posté le 30-01-2014 à 12:27:40 (S | E | F)
    Bonjour

    Voici une phrase en anglais dans laquelle il faut corriger une mauvaise utilisation des auxiliaires modaux.
    When I was little, you were able to buy a lot for $1
    Quand je lis le corrigé du livre, ils proposent : When I was little, you could buy a lot for $1
    je comprends que le premier ne fonctionne pas car il ne s'agit pas d'une capacité physique ..... être capable de , comme être capable de nager par exemple.....
    Mais quelle est la valeur exacte du "could"? Il ne s'agit pas d'une autorisation? Comment expliquer ce could?
    Merci beaucoup !

    -------------------
    Modifié par lucile83 le 31-01-2014 07:07


    Réponse: Were able ou could/aide de gerondif, postée le 31-01-2014 à 00:06:14 (S | E)
    Bonsoir,
    can et could n'ont pas qu'un sens de permission.
    I can come today because I have the time.
    I could come yesterday because I had the time.
    I can afford this car.
    I could afford that car at the time.



    Réponse: Were able ou could/aide de chat101, postée le 31-01-2014 à 09:46:47 (S | E)
    Hello

    They both sound right to me. The first one just uses more words to say the same thing in that context. Could is used more when asking someone to do something, or when volunteering to do something. (When comparing it to able)
    ie. Could you pass me the salt please?
    ie. Yes, I could pick that up for you.
    If able was in there it would be spoken like this,
    Are you able to pass me the salt please? (I would not ask this way unless there was a reason I thought the person might not be able to.)
    Yes, I am able to pick that up for you.
    Able is more about capability and could refers more to choice and ability.

    J'espère que cela t'aaidé.

    -------------------
    Modifié par lucile83 le 31-01-2014 16:30



    Réponse: Were able ou could/aide de mel_gigi, postée le 31-01-2014 à 18:27:05 (S | E)
    Thanks a lot! It's really useful!!!




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    Cours gratuits > Forum > Forum anglais: Questions sur l'anglais