MichaelLu2000
Member
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2019
- Member Type
- English Teacher
- Native Language
- Chinese
- Home Country
- Taiwan
- Current Location
- Taiwan
What’s the difference in the meaning between these sentences? I made up this conversations, so there’s no source.
A: My laptop is dead.
B: Jack is back in the town.
1. If you give him some money, he can fix it for you.
2. If you give him some money, he’ll be able to fix it for you.
I think sentence 1 means that by giving him money, Jack’s fixing the laptop for A will become available or possible. He might have the willingness to do so if he gets paid, and it might have nothing to do with his actual gaining of the means or the skills to fix it.
On the other hand, example 2 means that Jack needs the money to have the ability to fix it. He might need to buy some tools and materials with the money.
This is just my guess, and I’m wondering if I am right.
A: My laptop is dead.
B: Jack is back in the town.
1. If you give him some money, he can fix it for you.
2. If you give him some money, he’ll be able to fix it for you.
I think sentence 1 means that by giving him money, Jack’s fixing the laptop for A will become available or possible. He might have the willingness to do so if he gets paid, and it might have nothing to do with his actual gaining of the means or the skills to fix it.
On the other hand, example 2 means that Jack needs the money to have the ability to fix it. He might need to buy some tools and materials with the money.
This is just my guess, and I’m wondering if I am right.