French question
1 watcher
Jun 2016
7:16pm, 1 Jun 2016
13,218 posts
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ChrisHB
a pu être détecté was detected (correct and normal in my opinion) was able to be detected (also correct in my opinion) may have been detected (wrong in my opinion, but someone who thinks they know asserts it is correct) |
Jun 2016
7:26pm, 1 Jun 2016
19,619 posts
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GlennR
Chris, I have the most doubt about the first one, which seems to require the use of an imperfect verb somewhere? My French, however, is very rusty so happy to concede to superior knowledge. |
Jun 2016
7:51pm, 1 Jun 2016
13,219 posts
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ChrisHB
I'm not so worried about the tense, but whether it's a fact or a possibility.
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Jun 2016
7:57pm, 1 Jun 2016
19,627 posts
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GlennR
Google translate suggests possibility, Bing fact. Take your pick. In Russian the word for 'should' and 'must' is the same... |
Jun 2016
8:21pm, 1 Jun 2016
13,220 posts
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ChrisHB
and in German, you can add "konnte" without changing the fact, but "koennte" changes the fact into a doubt. However, it's French that I'm suddenly unsure of.
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