1)...I'm sorry I didn't tell you.I just couldn't seem to Find the right time. 2)...I'm sorry I didn't tell you.I just couldn't Find the right time. Why do American People use the expression " Could s

Robson Leonel Branco

1)...I'm sorry I didn't tell you.I just couldn't seem to Find the right time. 2)...I'm sorry I didn't tell you.I just couldn't Find the right time. Why do American People use the expression " Could seem"? What's the difference in context between the phrase one and two?

Oct 9, 2024 12:35 PM

Corrections · 5

1)...I'm sorry I didn't tell you.I just couldn't seem to find the right time. 2)...I'm sorry I didn't tell you.I just couldn't find the right time. Why do American People use the expression " Could seem"? What's the difference in context between the phrase one and two? #2 is a straightforward statement of fact: "I could not find". #1 says exactly the same thing, but it FEELS different. By saying "I couldn't SEEM to find", the speaker conveys the confusion, rush, difficulty, or whatever it was that made him unable to find the time.

Oct 11, 2024 7:16 PM

Using "seem" does imply that the person has tried, whereas with "couldn't find the right time," it's less likely the person made an effort. However, the difference between these two is infinitesimal and, I think, debatable.

Oct 9, 2024 8:05 PM