Skip to main content
English Language & Usage

Return to Question

Post Closed as "Duplicate" by Chenmunka, anongoodnurse, Ellie K, tchrist♦, Robusto
Tweeted twitter.com/#!/StackEnglish/status/525558620927184897
Modified the title to reflect the actual question, edited tags, fixed minor errors
Source Link
Mari-Lou A
Mari-Lou A
  • 92.9k
  • 92
  • 325
  • 590

What does this past tense mean Why is it "could" and not "can" in the famous line: "If a face could launch a thousand ships"?

This is from a song lyric

If a picture paints a thousand words,
Then why can't I paint you?
The words will never show the you I've come to know.
If a face could launch a thousand ships,
Then where am I to go?
There's no one home but you,
You're all that's left me too.
And when my love for life is running dry,
You come and pour yourself on me.

First the singer say If a picture paints a thousand wordssays If a picture paints a thousand words.

Then it saysFollowed by, If a face could launch a thousand shipsIf a face could launch a thousand ships.

Why does the singer sing "If a face could launch a thousand ships"?

Why not, "If a face can launch a thousand ships"?

Why is the   can used in the past?

What does this past tense mean?

This is from a song lyric

If a picture paints a thousand words,
Then why can't I paint you?
The words will never show the you I've come to know.
If a face could launch a thousand ships,
Then where am I to go?
There's no one home but you,
You're all that's left me too.
And when my love for life is running dry,
You come and pour yourself on me.

First the singer say If a picture paints a thousand words.

Then it says, If a face could launch a thousand ships.

Why does the singer sing "If a face could launch a thousand ships"?

Why not, "If a face can launch a thousand ships"?

Why is the can in the past?

Why is it "could" and not "can" in the famous line: "If a face could launch a thousand ships"?

This is from a song lyric

If a picture paints a thousand words,
Then why can't I paint you?
The words will never show the you I've come to know.
If a face could launch a thousand ships,
Then where am I to go?
There's no one home but you,
You're all that's left me too.
And when my love for life is running dry,
You come and pour yourself on me.

First the singer says If a picture paints a thousand words.

Followed by, If a face could launch a thousand ships.

Why does the singer sing "If a face could launch a thousand ships"?

Why not, "If a face can launch a thousand ships"?

Why is   can used in the past?

Some layout, some grammar. Title fix as teh question is about _one_ past tense only
Source Link
oerkelens
oerkelens
  • 36.7k
  • 8
  • 104
  • 132

What some of thesedoes this past tensestense mean?

This is from a song lyric

If a picture paints a thousand words, Then
Then why can't I paint you? The 
wordsThe words will never show the you I've come to know. If
If a face could launch launch a thousand ships, Then
Then where am I to go? There's
There's no one home but but you, You're
You're all that's left me too. And
And when my love for life is running running dry, You
You come and pour yourself on me.

First the singer say If a picture paints a thousand words.

Then it says, If a face could launch a thousand ships.

Why does the singer sing "If a face could launch a thousand ships"?

Why not, "If a face can launch a thousand ships"?

Why is the cancan in the past.?

What some of these past tenses mean?

This is from a song lyric

If a picture paints a thousand words, Then why can't I paint you? The words will never show the you I've come to know. If a face could launch a thousand ships, Then where am I to go? There's no one home but you, You're all that's left me too. And when my love for life is running dry, You come and pour yourself on me.

First the singer say If a picture paints a thousand words.

Then it says, If a face could launch a thousand ships.

Why does the singer sing "If a face could launch a thousand ships"?

Why not, "If a face can launch a thousand ships"?

Why is the can in the past.

What does this past tense mean?

This is from a song lyric

If a picture paints a thousand words,
Then why can't I paint you? 
The words will never show the you I've come to know.
If a face could launch a thousand ships,
Then where am I to go?
There's no one home but you,
You're all that's left me too.
And when my love for life is running dry,
You come and pour yourself on me.

First the singer say If a picture paints a thousand words.

Then it says, If a face could launch a thousand ships.

Why does the singer sing "If a face could launch a thousand ships"?

Why not, "If a face can launch a thousand ships"?

Why is the can in the past?

Source Link
user4951
user4951
  • 2.1k
  • 8
  • 28
  • 28

What some of these past tenses mean?

This is from a song lyric

If a picture paints a thousand words, Then why can't I paint you? The words will never show the you I've come to know. If a face could launch a thousand ships, Then where am I to go? There's no one home but you, You're all that's left me too. And when my love for life is running dry, You come and pour yourself on me.

First the singer say If a picture paints a thousand words.

Then it says, If a face could launch a thousand ships.

Why does the singer sing "If a face could launch a thousand ships"?

Why not, "If a face can launch a thousand ships"?

Why is the can in the past.