WOULD, COULD, and SHOULD Part I COULD The dictionaries inform us that COULD shows "possibility" or what can or could possibly be done. "I could speak English if I was willing to

Bruce

WOULD, COULD, and SHOULD Part I COULD The dictionaries inform us that COULD shows "possibility" or what can or could possibly be done. "I could speak English if I was willing to study." "I could master the language if I studied with great effort." "I could answer your question if I knew the answer." When you think of COULD, think of it in terms of a specific SKILL or POTENTIAL you have to do something. If you were a lawyer, you COULD represent someone in a court of law; but that does not mean that you would want to represent an evil criminal in a court of law. If you were a Queen, you COULD order the execution of any citizen of your country without a trial; but that does not mean that you would want to order the execution of any citizen of your country. If you found a man that you liked for a friend, you COULD date that man; but that does not mean that you would want to date every man that you liked for a friend. If you were wealthy, you COULD enter into the manufacture of a line of custom made exotic sports cars that cost $500,000 each; but that does not mean that you would want to do that simply because you COULD do that. =============================================

Jul 4, 2014 9:57 PM

Corrections · 1

WOULD, COULD, and SHOULD

Part I COULD

The dictionaries inform us that COULD shows "possibility"

or what can or could possibly be done.

"I could speak English if I was were <em>( see your later example, '... if you were a lawyer' but it is another topic)</em> willing to study."

"I could master the language if I studied with great effort."

"I could answer your question if I knew the answer."

When you think of COULD, think of it in terms of a specific SKILL or POTENTIAL you have to do something.

If you were a lawyer, you COULD represent someone in a court of law; but that does not mean that you would want to represent an evil criminal in a court of law.

If you were a Queen, you COULD order the execution of any citizen of your country without a trial; but that does not mean that you would want to order the execution of any citizen of your country.

If you found a man that you liked for a friend, you COULD date that man; but that does not mean that you would want to date every man that you liked for a friend.

If you were wealthy, you COULD enter into the manufacture of a line of custom made exotic sports cars that cost $500,000 each; but that does not mean that you would want to do that simply because you COULD do that.

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