Question
Updated on
9 Jan 2023
- Traditional Chinese (Taiwan)
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English (US)
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English (UK)
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Question about English (US)
Can I say " Did you tell I was nervous " instead of " Could you tell I was nervous " ?
Can I say " Did you tell I was nervous " instead of " Could you tell I was nervous " ?
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- English (US)
Obviously wrong
Explanation is not enough
Written in a language I can't understand
Answer is not related to the question
Other reason
- Traditional Chinese (Taiwan)
@38d69432 Why can't I say " Did you tell I was nervous ? "
- English (US)
@worththetry There isn’t actually anything wrong with saying “Did you tell I was nervous?”, but “Could” means to be able or have the ability to. That’s why it’s better to say “Could you tell I was nervous?” rather than the other.
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- Traditional Chinese (Taiwan)
- English (US)
@worththetry They both mean the same thing, but it isn’t correct grammar. “Did” is the past form of “Do”, but the way the sentence is, it’s like asking if someone told somebody else you were nervous.
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- Traditional Chinese (Taiwan)
@whatawond3r
I do NOT think they mean the same thing.
" Did you tell I was nervous " means asking if he/she told someone else that I was nervous.
" Could you tell I was nervous " means asking if he/she was able to think I was nervous.
I do NOT think they mean the same thing.
" Did you tell I was nervous " means asking if he/she told someone else that I was nervous.
" Could you tell I was nervous " means asking if he/she was able to think I was nervous.
- English (US)
- Traditional Chinese (Taiwan)
@whatawond3r
you said they both mean the same thing which they're not, but thanks for the explanation anyway.
you said they both mean the same thing which they're not, but thanks for the explanation anyway.
- English (US)
@worththetry because they both quite literally mean the same thing if context was taken out of the question. if you already knew the answer, why ask? you’re clearly skipping over the part where I said “but the way the sentence is, it’s like asking if someone told somebody else you were nervous.”
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- Traditional Chinese (Taiwan)
@whatawond3r
no, actually, I did not quite know the difference, so that was actually meant to be a question.
if context was taken out of the question, why would it mean the same thing ?
no, actually, I did not quite know the difference, so that was actually meant to be a question.
if context was taken out of the question, why would it mean the same thing ?
- English (US)
@worththetry a lot of things in English depends on the tone of your voice and how you say things.
for example, let’s say you and your classmates are finally performing the song you all learned in your chorus class, but you’re really scared to be on stage. after it’s over, you’ll probably be relieved.
now, your friend comes over to you and you both laugh a little, and you ask “did you tell I was nervous?” (in a friendly way) and they respond “yeah, I could tell.”
there’s small things like that where people naturally respond with the right response (could instead of did) if the situation allows it
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- Traditional Chinese (Taiwan)
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