May 21, 2012 15:49
12 yrs ago
English term

Could you have answered it

Non-PRO English Other General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
"Could you have answered it without Melville's explanation?" Can we say it this way

Would "would you have been able to answer" be better?

Thank you!
Change log

May 21, 2012 15:49: changed "Kudoz queue" from "In queue" to "Public"

May 21, 2012 18:57: Thayenga changed "Level" from "PRO" to "Non-PRO"

Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

Non-PRO (3): Charlesp, Sabine Akabayov, PhD, Thayenga

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Responses

+13
6 mins
Selected

the same meaning and both correct

IMO both expressions that you give have the same meaning and both express the meaning well in English. "Could", in this context, has the meaning of having the ability to do something, to be able to do something.
Peer comment(s):

agree Carol Gullidge : they are equally correct; neither one is better than the other
2 mins
Thanks, Carol!
agree katsy
27 mins
Thanks, katsy!
agree Veronika McLaren
29 mins
Thanks, Veronika!
agree Tony M
31 mins
Thanks, Tony!
agree Charles Davis
31 mins
Thanks, Charles!
agree Sheila Wilson
1 hr
Thanks, Sheila!
agree Charlesp : yes
2 hrs
Thanks, Charles!
agree Armorel Young
2 hrs
Thanks, Armorel!
agree Sabine Akabayov, PhD
2 hrs
Thanks, sibsab!
agree Thayenga : Both can be used and are correct. :)
3 hrs
Thanks, Thayenga!
agree Bernhard Sulzer : but "could you have answered it" is shorter and less complicated. That's why I prefer it.
3 hrs
Thanks, Bernhard. That's a good point...
agree Phong Le
8 hrs
Thanks, Phong Le!
agree Pham Huu Phuoc
11 hrs
Thanks, Pham!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
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