Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive a link and will create a new password via email.

What is the capital of Tunisia?

Please type your username.

Please type your E-Mail.

Please choose the appropriate section so the question can be searched easily.

Please choose suitable Keywords Ex: question, poll.

Type the description thoroughly and in details.

What is the capital of Tunisia?

“ça doit pouvoir”: Is this construction acceptable?

Yes, it is correct.

In this quote, “devoir” is used as a modal verb, as would the verbs “pouvoir/can”, “sembler/seems” and “paraître/appear” (which could also be used in this sentence).

You can find more informations on Wikipédia: Les auxiliaires de modalité épistémique : sembler, paraître, pouvoir, devoir.

They are used to add some degree of uncertainty.

If you use “ça doit se trouver là bas” you are pretty sure it is, with “ça peut se trouver là bas” you are pretty sure it can be, and with “ça doit pouvoir se trouver là bas” you just think it makes sense and it should be there, but you’re not sure of anything.

 

Leave a comment

What is the capital of Tunisia?