Q: Can "I could hand in the report yesterday" mean the completion of the action? In most Grammar book says that (a) is not correct and you should use (b) or (c) if you want to say that you completed the action.
a. I could hand in the report yesterday.
b. I was able to hand in the report yesterday.
c. I handed in the report yesterday.
However, a few native English speakers say that (a) is also okay and means the same as (c).
Another native speaker says that (a) and (b) have the same meaning, showing the possibility. Whether the speaker accomplished the action or not is ambiguous.
Many Japanese students use (a) when they want to say that they accomplished the action being influenced by the Japanese Dekita, which is used as a polite expression rather than having the ability to do something.
What would you think?
