YOU could be forgiven for arriving poolside for the Oscars in tardy fashion this year.

1) Is this a future tense?

2) Does the auxillary word 'could' mean possibility?

3)Is this a passive tense or active tense? It seems to me that looks like a passive tense, but I think it is an active tense.

4)If an active tense, in this case, that somebody will forgive one if one dresses up in tardy fashion.

Thank you

>Is this a future tense?

Show context. It could be past, present and future. "This year" doesn't clarify that.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Marius Hancu,

"You could be forgiven" is a future possibility. "You might be forgiven" is another way to say the same thing.

Yes, "could" means a possibility in the future. You're right.

It's passive voice. Somebody or some people could forgive you; therefore, you could be forgiven by somebody or some people.

"In a tardy fashion" means "tardily," that is, "late."

"This year" could be in the past of this year, right now, or later this year. The example sentence means that it's possible that people will forgive you for arriving late for the Oscars awards this year. Since the Oscars will be awarded this coming Sunday night, the day after tomorrow, this sentence refers to the future.

Rachel

Rachel said:

quote:

"This year" could be in the past of this year, right now, or later this year.

The example sentence means that it's possible that people will forgive you for arriving late for the Oscars awards this year. Since the Oscars will be awarded this coming Sunday night, the day after tomorrow, this sentence refers to the future.

I agree with the first part of your reply. It was also the basis for my reply.

The 2nd part of your reply is true in actual sense (re the Oscar party being this coming Sunday), but the original posting by its context does not say anything it, thus just by itself the original sentence could mean past, present and future, IMO.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Marius Hancu,