Grammar modals

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Age: 17+
Level: advanced
Language: English (en)
ID: 294865
04/07/2020
Country code: PE
Country: Peru
School subject: Grammar (1061914)
Main content: Modals (2001506)

Could
We can use could + infinitive to talk about a general possibility in the past (compare with the use of 'can' above):
Prices could be high in the sixteenth century.
This is not used to talk about specific possibilites in the past (instead we use could + have + past participle):
He could have been working late (not: 'could be'. As this is a specific possiblity, 'could be' is present tense)

Other contents: modals

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Grammar modals

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