Could vs. would- comment not question

Melody S.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Could vs. would- comment not question

It would be helpful to point out the use of could as well as would.  Yes, there is one example using could, but for me at least, this didn't sink in until just now, and I have a high score on this lesson.  More examples, plus pointing this out in the body of the lesson would be very useful.  

The one example:

S'ils économisaient plus, ils pourraient se permettre des vacances.

If they saved more, they could afford holidays.

Asked 4 years ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Melody,

Thank you for your comment.

There is a Kwiziq lesson on using pouvoir in the conditional to say - could 

https://progress.lawlessfrench.com/revision/grammar/conjugate-pouvoir-in-le-conditionnel-present-i-could

In brief -

would = any verb in the conditional

could = pouvoir in the conditional

should = devoir in the conditional 

Hope this helps!

Melody S.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

p.s. It's just that changing could for would is simple in English, but a little more complicated in French. 

Could vs. would- comment not question

It would be helpful to point out the use of could as well as would.  Yes, there is one example using could, but for me at least, this didn't sink in until just now, and I have a high score on this lesson.  More examples, plus pointing this out in the body of the lesson would be very useful.  

The one example:

S'ils économisaient plus, ils pourraient se permettre des vacances.

If they saved more, they could afford holidays.

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