He can swim.
この文は、1)、2)両方の捉え方が可能です。
主語がitならば、能力があるはずないし、動詞が能力の有無は問わないものもたくさんありますから、常に1)2)の両方の意味が成立可能ではないです。←解説書の例文は巧みに主語、動詞を選んであるので、ここのところは理解しにくいかと思います。
さて、He can swim.ですが、
1)彼は泳ぐ能力がある→彼は泳げる、彼は泳ぐことができる
2)「彼が泳ぐ」ということに関して「話者=わたし」が可能だと考えるor
「彼が泳ぐ」ということに関して「話者=わたし」は可能性があると考える
→彼は泳いでよい、or彼は泳ぐかもしれない
couldはcanの過去形には間違いないのですが、
canで表現できるものを、そのまま過去に移して考えるわけにはいかないのです。
ここは端的には説明しずらところですが、canは「内包的能力」「永続的能力」です。
He could swimは、仮定法で、「彼は泳ぐかも〜」「泳げばいいのに」という意味にしかならない。
「昨日1Km泳ぐ事ができた」は、He was able to swim 1Km yesterday.としないといけません。
Ann did really well to pass that examination.
I'm sure she ________ it.
1. could pass
2. could have passed
3. couldn't pass
4. couldn't have passed
1.She could pass it.は、(私の考えるに<これから>彼女は試験に受かる)「彼女、試験、受かるよ」
She can pass itと意味するものはあまり変わらないです。couldだと、仮定法で、腰が引けた表現ですね。
2.She could have passed it. 私の考えるに、例えばの話可能なんだ、過去に彼女が試験に通ったということは。わかりにくくてごめんなさいね。
こんな風に使えます。
If she had worked harder, she could have passed the examination.
彼女、もっと一生懸命勉強したとすれば、試験に通ったのにな。
3.She couldn't pass it.
過去の内包的、永続的能力は否定では使えちゃうのですが、この説明も省かせてください。
上手に言えないので。
「彼女は試験に落ちた」という意味になります。
Ann did really well to pass the examination.
の解釈についてネイティブの見解を聞いてみたく、
English Test Net (http://www.english-test.net/) という
サイトの文法・語法に関する掲示板に質問を書き込んでみました。
概要は以下の通りです。
I'd like to ask you about what the following sentence exactly means;
"Ann did really well to pass that examination. "
I think that this sentence means
"Ann studied hard and was able to pass the examination".
However, is there any possibility that this sentence means
"Ann studied hard in order to pass the examination,
and she has not taken the examination yet" or
"Ann studied hard and took the examination,
but they(university?) have not informed her of the result yet" ?
I would be much appreciated if you could answer my question.
Thank you.
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"Ann did really well to pass that examination. "
--> This sentence means: Ann did the test very well
and she passed the examination.
(she worked very hard during the examination)
It is very nice to analyze clearly your sentence.
At the first time I read your sentence, I immediately
answer as above. But when I read the whole your inquiries,
I suggest another answer base on your thinking.
Ann did --> this means the whole thing she did before the examination
only for the purpose of passing the exam.
And the rest of sentence just express that she passed the exam.
Shortarrow wrote:
I'd like to ask you about what the following sentence exactly means;
"Ann did really well to pass that examination. "
I think that this sentence means
"Ann studied hard and was able to pass the examination".
You are correct. It was a difficult examination
and she worked really hard.
As a result of her hard work she passed it.
Quote:
However, is there any possibility that this sentence means
"Ann studied hard in order to pass the examination,
and she has not taken the examination yet" or
"Ann studied hard and took the examination,
but they(university?) have not informed her of the result yet" ?
No.
"Ann has done really well in studying for that examination"
or similar would be required for such a meaning.
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Cheers m' dears!
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