Are the following sentences right or wrong?
- When I was a child, I could go out whenever I wanted to.
- Yesterday evening, Peter could go out only for an hour.
- Peter couldn't go out yesterday because he was naughty.
Show Answer
The second sentence is wrong!
It should be: ...Peter was allowed to go out...
In talking about the past, we use could to say that somebody hadpermission to do something at any time ('general permission '), but we do not use could to talk about permission for one particular action in the past.
Compare:
• When I was a child, I could watch TV whenever I wanted to.
• Yesterday evening, Peter was allowed to watch TV for an hour. (NOT…Peter could watch TV for an hour.)
But could not can be used to talk about one particular action.
• Peter couldn't watch TV because he was naughty.
(The difference between could and was/ were allowed is similar to the difference between could and was l were able.)
