Secondary meanings
( Different forms of the infinitive can be used.) 1. Unreal Ability/ Opportunity & Reproach (the Conditional Mood): You could have won (міг би) that competition if you had practiced more. (could have won = you had the opportunity but didn’t use it) You could have told me! = Ти міг би мені сказати! (reproach) 2. Possibility ( only could in affirmative sentences and questions ): Where could he be now? – He could be at the club or at the football match. I don’t think he could have stayed at home. = Де він може зараз бути? – Він може бути в клубі, або на футбольному матчі. Я не думаю, що він міг залишитись вдома.
3. Doubt (‘Can’ in general questions) Can it be true? Can he be still working? Can he have forgotten about our date? (Невже?) 4. Surprise or anger (‘Can’ in special questions ): How can he be so stupid? How can he have squeezed between these bars? = І як він зміг пролізти через ці грати? 5. Logical assumption (can’t/ couldn’t): He can’t be at home. = Не може бути, щоб він був удома (He must be out. = Його напевно немає.) He can’t have stayed. = Не може бути, щоб він залишився. (He must have left. = Він напевно пішов.)
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