I wish/use

I wish/use
Message de tigresoleil posté le 10-03-2013 à 18:54:26 (S | E | F)
Hello,

Could you help me please?

Bruce wishes he had more money so he could buy a new sweater
why we cannot can't we say:
Bruce wishes he had had more money so he could buy a new sweater
considering that could is in the past

Another question
should we say: If he were /if he was?
Thank you for your answers.

-------------------
Modifié par tigresoleil le 10-03-2013 18:55

-------------------
Modifié par lucile83 le 10-03-2013 19:22

---

Réponse: I wish/use de sherry48, postée le 10-03-2013 à 20:03:04 (S | E)
Hello.
Bruce wishes he had had more money means that Bruce presently wishes that at some time in the past, he had more money.
So he could buy a new sweater is not in the past, and this action needs to be in the past since that was when he lacked money for the purchase.
If you would give me some money, I could buy a new sweater. Could is not past tense, but describes the possibility or capabilty of buying a sweater.
For your example, it is the main verb that needs to be in a past tense, an unspecified time in the past...he could _____ ________ a new sweater.
Can you correct it?
Sherry

---

[POSTER UNE NOUVELLE REPONSE] [Suivre ce sujet]

Cours gratuits > Forum > Forum anglais: Questions sur l'anglais