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the usage of 'could' in these lyrics



 
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ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
Adjective: 'I am very pragmatic person' vs 'I am very pragmatic' | meaning of a phrase "he has to have it up me open..."
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the usage of 'could' in these lyrics Sun Jun 29, 2008 13:04 pm  the usage of 'could' in these lyrics
 

Hello, all you Gosues,

While I listened to the CCM song, 'There is none like you', I got curious the usage of 'could' in the lyrics below:

There is none like You
No one else can touch my heart like You do
I could search for all eternity long
And find there is none like You

Here, I think "could" seems different from the "could" that indicates ability with past tense, like the following sentence: When I left school at 16, I couldn't read or write.
There are many different kind of usage of 'could'. I cannot figure out what it is in this case. Please help me!

Thank you in advance,
sweetpumpkin
sweetpumpkin
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Joined: 17 Dec 2007
Posts: 72
Location: S.Korea

the usage of 'could' in these lyrics Sun Jun 29, 2008 13:07 pm  the usage of 'could' in these lyrics
 

Hello SP,

"Could" here indicates "possibility". Thus the phrase means:

1. It would be possible to search for all eternity, and find that there is no one like you.

Cf.

2. I can't come today. But I could come tomorrow.

=

3. It is not possible for me to come today. But it is possible for me to come tomorrow.

All the best,

MrP
MrPedantic
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 828
Location: Southern England

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the usage of 'could' in these lyrics Sun Jun 29, 2008 13:26 pm  the usage of 'could' in these lyrics
 

Thank you for your quick answer, MrP.

Then, is it right to understand this way?

"Even though I search for all eternity, I will find that there's no one like you in the end."

Thank you in advance,
sweetpumpkin
sweetpumpkin
You can meet me at english-test.net


Joined: 17 Dec 2007
Posts: 72
Location: S.Korea

the usage of 'could' in these lyrics Sun Jun 29, 2008 13:29 pm  the usage of 'could' in these lyrics
 

Hello SP,

Yes, that's the essential meaning.

(I'm a little concerned about your cat, in your avatar. Is it well?)

MrP
MrPedantic
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 828
Location: Southern England

the usage of 'could' in these lyrics Sun Jun 29, 2008 13:42 pm  the usage of 'could' in these lyrics
 

Wow, how quick you are, MrP! Thank you again!

As for the cat in my avatar, it is stretched in the picture by Photoshop, not in reality, I'm sure. As far as I know, the picture is an album cover of a Japanese Rock band, 'Spitz'. I should change it sooner or later not to cause concerns. Wink

sweetpumpkin
sweetpumpkin
You can meet me at english-test.net


Joined: 17 Dec 2007
Posts: 72
Location: S.Korea

the usage of 'could' in these lyrics Sun Jun 29, 2008 13:50 pm  the usage of 'could' in these lyrics
 

sweetpumpkin wrote:
As for the cat in my avatar, it is stretched in the picture by Photoshop, not in reality, I'm sure.

That's all right, then. I was wondering whether there was someone standing with an immense vacuum cleaner, just out of the picture.

(Don't change it on my account! I'll go and look at their website now.)

Have a pleasant Sunday,

MrP
MrPedantic
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 828
Location: Southern England

the usage of 'could' in these lyrics Sun Jun 29, 2008 14:59 pm  the usage of 'could' in these lyrics
 

Okay, MrP. I won't change it!

You have a happy Sunday, too! Smile
sweetpumpkin
You can meet me at english-test.net


Joined: 17 Dec 2007
Posts: 72
Location: S.Korea

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Adjective: 'I am very pragmatic person' vs 'I am very pragmatic' | meaning of a phrase "he has to have it up me open..."
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