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What is the difference between "couldn't ask for more" & "couldn't have asked for more" ?
Dear friends
What is the difference between "couldn't ask for more" & "couldn't have asked for more" ? Please help me out.
If we consider the following examples, do both situations express the same idea?
situation 1
Bill: Are you happy? Sue: Oh, Bill. I couldn't ask for more
situation 2
My career has been terrific. I couldn't have asked for more.
Dec 25, 2013 8:51 AM
Answers · 4
2
"Couldn't ask for more" is in the present. Since Bill is currently happy he can't ask for more.
"Couldn't have asked for more" is in the past tense. Your career has already been terrific since it start until now, so you couldn't have asked for more.
December 25, 2013
1
couldn't ask for more <-- Past Indefinite
couldn't have asked for more <-- Perfect conditional
December 25, 2013
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Niwantha
Language Skills
English, Sinhala
Learning Language
English
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