"Our surnames are the same! Maybe a long time ago, we could've been related."

[B45]

"Our surnames are the same! Maybe a long time ago, we could've been related."

"Our surnames are the same! Maybe a long time ago, we could've been related."

A friend said this to me. Can this be said?

 

[MikeNewYork]

Re: "Our surnames are the same! Maybe a long time ago, we could've been related."

If you were related a long time ago, you would still be related (although perhaps not closely related).

 

[Rover_KE]

Re: "Our surnames are the same! Maybe a long time ago, we could've been related."

A better version would be

"Our surnames are the same! Maybe a long time ago our ancestors were closely related."

 

[B45]

Re: "Our surnames are the same! Maybe a long time ago, we could've been related."

A better version would be

"Our surnames are the same! Maybe a long time ago our ancestors were closely related."

Your version is definitely better! Is what my friend said natural or even understandable?

 

[MikeNewYork]

Re: "Our surnames are the same! Maybe a long time ago, we could've been related."

Your friend's sentence was understandable; it just wasn't entirely accurate.