pregunta de gramatica inglesa. " Can, could, or can have pp" Certainty and probability

Question

I was unable to go to my sister´s wedding because I had flu.

otra forma correcta de decirlo sería:

I had flu so could not go to my sister´s wedding.

Pero la duda que tengo es que si estoy hablando en pasado, conforme a la gramática porque no sería correcto decir I had flu so I can have not gone to my sister´s wedding. (ya que estoy hablando del pasado, y además es algo cierto, que me encontraba enfermo, no era especulación.)

Gracias. un saludo a todos.

yes, perfect, no doubt at all implied. sorry I have limited internet and can't keep checking and voting at the moment. - annierats, Jul 7, 2014

gracias - lliones, Jul 7, 2014

Answer 1

If you want to express it with doubt you would have to say "If it were not for the fact that I was ill, I might have been able to go to the wedding.

Or similar, an addition of " might" or " may" will express the doubt.

Hi Annie - ian-hill, Jul 5, 2014

G'day Annie , are you back ? That is a long winded way to say -" Couldn't go mate I was crook " ! - ray76, Jul 5, 2014

Hola amiga. :) - rac1, Jul 5, 2014

Gracias - lliones, Jul 7, 2014

Answer 2

Are you worried about the tense? Someone says 'Why didn't you go to your sister's wedding?'

Answer - I was ill/I had 'flu.

Answer: I couldn't go because I had flu.

Answer: I wasn't able to go/attend because I had 'flu.

Answer: I felt bad/awful/terrible about not going, but I had 'flu

They all explain the fact

1. You failed to turn up for your sister's wedding [which has finished]

   2.. fact - at the time the wedding took place you were ill.

As written we do not know when he is giving his answer eg the day of the wedding,the same week or a year later[though if he actually had flu he would say the same day or next day 'I didn't go to the wedding because I have the flu/or I am ill]

Does that help?

Are you studying the modal verbs? Eg I should have gone to the wedding,but I was ill

 I ought to have gone to the wedding  but I was ill

Both suggest a sense of duty or obligation

This web site is very useful:

web link

Gracias :) - rac1, Jul 5, 2014

Answer 3

See Annie's answer - but you can also say.

"Had I not been ill, I might / could / would have been able to go to the wedding.

Update

Might and Could show a "possibilty"

Would shows a "probability" or a "certainty" depending on context..

Pero yo quiero expresar seguridad, yo estaba enfermo y no podia ir. "Might and may as well as could" expresan probabilidad, es decir quizàs si quizàs no - lliones, Jul 5, 2014

:) Muchas, muchas gracias. - rac1, Jul 5, 2014

Gracias - lliones, Jul 7, 2014