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French question

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ChrisHB Jun 2016 7:16pm, 1 Jun 2016 13,218 posts	Quote Pin 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)
GlennR Jun 2016 7:26pm, 1 Jun 2016 19,619 posts	Quote Pin 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.
ChrisHB Jun 2016 7:51pm, 1 Jun 2016 13,219 posts	Quote Pin ChrisHB I'm not so worried about the tense, but whether it's a fact or a possibility.
GlennR Jun 2016 7:57pm, 1 Jun 2016 19,627 posts	Quote Pin GlennR Google translate suggests possibility, Bing fact. Take your pick. In Russian the word for 'should' and 'must' is the same...
ChrisHB Jun 2016 8:21pm, 1 Jun 2016 13,220 posts	Quote Pin 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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a pu être détecté

was detected (correct and normal in my opinion)
was able to be detected (al...

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