Разница между could (do) и could have (done)
Мы используем could по-разному. Иногда could это прошедшее время модального глагола can (см. урок 26):
- Listen. I can hear something. (now)
- I listened. I could hear something. (past)
Но это не единственный способ использования could. Мы также используем could, говоря о возможных действиях в настоящем или будущем (особенно выступая с предложениями (suggestions)).
Например:
- A: What shall we do this evening?
B: We could go to the cinema. - A: When you go to Paris next month, you could stay with Julia.
B: Yes, I suppose I could.
Can тоже возможно в этих предложениях (‘We can go to the cinema.’ и др.). С could предложение (suggestion) менее реалистичное (less sure), т.е. меньше уверенности в таком развитии событий.
Мы также используем could (не can) для нереалистичных действий. Например:
- I’m so tired, I could sleep for a week. (not
I can sleep for a week)
Сравните can и could:
- I can stay with Julia when I go to Paris. (реалистично)
- Maybe I could stay with Julia when I go to Paris. (возможно, но меньше уверенности)
- This is a wonderful place. I could stay here for ever. (нереалистично)
Мы также используем could (не can), чтобы сказать, что что-то возможно сейчас или в будущем. Значение схоже с might или may (см. урок 29):
- The story could be true, but I don’t think it is. (not
can be true) - I don’t know what time Liz is coming. She could get here at any time.
Мы используем could have (done), когда говорим о прошлом. Сравните:
- I’m so tired, I could sleep for a week. (now)
I was so tired, I could have slept for a week. (past) - The situation is bad, but it could be worse. (now)
The situation was bad, but it could have been worse. (past)
Что-то could have happened (могло случиться) = это было возможно, но не случилось:
- Why did you stay at a hotel when you were in Paris? You could have stayed with Julia. (ты не остановился у нее)
- I didn’t know that you wanted to go to the concert. I could have got you a ticket. (я не взял тебе билет)
- Dave was lucky. He could have hurt himself when he fell, but he’s OK.
Мы используем couldn’t, говоря о том, что не было бы возможно сейчас:
- I couldn’t live in a big city. I’d hate it. (= это не было бы возможно для меня)
- Everything is fine right now. Things couldn’t be better.
В прошедшем времени мы используем couldn’t have (done):
- We had a really good holiday. It couldn’t have been better.
- The trip was cancelled last week. Paul couldn’t have gone anyway because he was ill. (= это не было бы возможным для него)
Упражнения
1. Ответьте на вопросы, предлагая что-нибудь с could.
- Where shall we go for our holidays?
(to Scotland)
- What shall we have for dinner tonight?
(fish)
- When shall I phone Angela?
(now)
- What shall I give Ann for her birthday?
(a book)
- Where shall we hang this picture?
(in the kitchen)
2. В некоторых предложениях, нужно использовать could (а не can). Исправьте предложения, если необходимо.
B: No, but it can be in the car.
B: You can borrow mine.
3. Закончите предложения. Используйте could или could have + подходящий глагол.
- A: What shall we do this evening?
B: I don’t mind. We to the cinema. - A: I had a very boring evening at home yesterday.
B: Why did you stay at home? You out with us. - A: There’s an interesting job advertised in the paper. You for it.
B: What sort of job? Show me the advertisement. - A: How was your exam? Was it difficult?
B: It wasn’t so bad. It worse. - A: I got very wet walking home in the rain last night.
B: Why did you walk? You a taxi. - A: Where shall we meet tomorrow?
B: Well, I to your house if you like.
4. Закончите предложения. Используйте couldn’t или couldn’t have + эти глаголы (в правильной форме):
be be come find get live wear
- I in a big city. I’d hate it.
- We had a really good holiday. It better.
- I that hat. I’d look silly and people would laugh at me.
- We managed to find the restaurant you recommended, but we it without the map that you drew for us.
- Paul has to get up at 4 o’clock every morning. I don’t know how he does it. I up at that time every day.
- The staff at the hotel were really nice when we stayed there last summer. They more helpful.
- A: I tried to phone you last week. We had a party and I wanted to invite you.
B: That was nice of you, but I anyway. I was away all last week.