1- it couldn't have been easy.
2- it couldn't be easy.
2006-09-11 16:51:47 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
Number one is referring to something that has already passed.
Number 2 is referring to something at present or in the future.
That's my guess.
2006-09-11 16:53:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, I think it has to do with tense. In the first sentence, the past tense implies that whatever did take place is now in fact over and done with, and it was not easy.
The second sentence is more like, describing an idea or hypothetical scenario. "To fly without wings just could not be easy." This is sort of implying that the person speaking doesn't think he/she could fly without wings even though he/she hasn't yet tried to do so. So it's kind of a conditional tense.
2006-09-12 00:08:21 · answer #2 · answered by soulguy85 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Question #1 is past tense, and #2 is present tense. "It couldn't have been easy" is looking at a past event and discussing it's most assured difficulty, while "it couldn't be easy" is discussing the doubt of ease of a current event.
2006-09-11 23:58:12 · answer #3 · answered by Jane V 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first sentence is in the past tense
The second sentence is present continuous tense
2006-09-12 02:54:30 · answer #4 · answered by payal b 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My opinion, No. 1 means past tense, it already has happened. No. 2 means future tense, it may/will happen.
2006-09-11 23:56:46 · answer #5 · answered by woodchucker392 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It couldn't have been easy is an assumption.
It couldent be easy is a statement.
2006-09-11 23:54:48 · answer #6 · answered by momof2borninmarch 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1) past tense
2) no possibility of being easy
2006-09-11 23:54:43 · answer #7 · answered by Milkaholic 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first one is in the past tense, and the second one is in the present tense.
2006-09-11 23:54:14 · answer #8 · answered by IthinkFramptonisstillahottie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1: You are talking about something that already happened, and saying you don't think it was easy
2: You are talking about something that is happening now or will happen in the future, saying it probably won't be easy
2006-09-11 23:58:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
#1 is past tense
#2 is present tense
2006-09-11 23:54:21 · answer #10 · answered by Jon P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋