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puzzle
Joined: 17 Oct 2005
Posts: 198
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 Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:45 am Post subject: could have done |
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Dear teachers,
I can't understand the following sentence,Could you please explain it to me?
The car was not in good condition and couldn't have been driven away under its own steam.
What's the meaning of "could not have been driven away" and is there any difference between "can have done" and "could have done"?
Thank you very much! |
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CP
Joined: 12 Jun 2006
Posts: 2875
Location: California
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:27 am Post subject: |
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It means:
The car was not in good condition. It was not possible to drive the car. If it went from one place to another, it must have been pushed or towed.
"Under its own steam" means "all by itself," without any outside assistance. The first vehicles that did not need animals or people to move them were locomotives (trains) and boats powered by steam engines. Anything that can move under its own steam doesn't need any outside help to go.
Sometimes the phrase is applied to people. Ted Kennedy had a stroke and was hospitalized, but now he's better and can go about under his own steam.
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