Timeline for Does "could not [verb]" imply that attempts were made?
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
3 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
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| Mar 25, 2014 at 1:14 | vote | accept | mosceo | ||
| Mar 24, 2014 at 20:49 | comment | added | Jay | Note the same words could be used in a context where you tried and failed. Indeed, in your examples, you could say #2 if you tried to help him with his homework but gave up in despair. My point being, "could not" could mean tried and failed, or could mean didn't try because it was hopeless, depending on context. | |
| Mar 24, 2014 at 15:04 | history | answered | oerkelens | CC BY-SA 3.0 |