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can be seen vs Could be seen

Both 'can be seen' and 'could be seen' are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'Can be seen' is used to indicate a general ability or possibility to be seen, while 'could be seen' is used to indicate a past ability or possibility to be seen. The choice between them depends on the tense and context of the sentence.

Last updated: March 31, 2024 • 5647 views

can be seen

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used to indicate a general ability or possibility for something to be seen in the present or future.

Examples:

  • The beautiful sunset can be seen from the top of the hill.
  • The details can be seen clearly under the microscope.
  • The stars can be seen in the night sky.
  • The message can be seen on the billboard.
  • The potential dangers can be seen in the distance.
  • Uber-loyalty can be seen as a lack of judgement, of weakness.
  • This is misleading and can be seen as a manifestation of economic neoliberalism in the cultural sphere.
  • Our attachment to those values can be seen in the very composition of the Commission.
  • Volunteering can be seen as a strong component of the partnership principle.
  • It can be seen in LA.
  • You can be seen from most of the houses.
  • You can be seen from miles.
  • Through the window, an Asian cook can be seen preparing sushi...
  • My son doesn't believe that the future can be seen.
  • The Commission's contribution to debt relief can be seen in the HIPC initiative.
  • She can be seen by other people now.
  • Parallels with Slovakia when governed by Meciar can be seen here.
  • A similar phenomenon can be seen today in Senegalese waters.
  • This can be seen as a discriminatory element in societies.
  • This can be seen worldwide and I need not give recent examples of it.
  • I believe this can be seen as progress.
  • The agreement can be seen as satisfactory to Parliament because it brings with it many positive outcomes.
  • That tendency can be seen in product sale subsidies and export refunds.
  • Problems and accidents involving cruise control can be seen all over Europe.
  • The result can be seen in the rise of foreign competition in the international arms market.

Alternatives:

  • is visible
  • is observable
  • is noticeable
  • is apparent
  • is evident

Could be seen

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used to indicate a past ability or possibility for something to be seen.

Examples:

  • The ghost could be seen wandering the halls at night.
  • The old ruins could be seen from a distance.
  • The shipwreck could be seen at the bottom of the ocean.
  • The footprints could be seen in the mud.
  • The outline of the mountain could be seen through the fog.
  • It could be seen by the naked eye.
  • Faith's coming out could be seen by 15 million people.
  • Annie, if you walk in there unprepared, it could be seen as an evasive move.
  • If she insisted on speaking to you about our dead children... then she could be seen as a witch.
  • The publication of the minutes of the ECB Governing Council meetings could be seen as a way through which the ECB would exercise its accountability.
  • Shooting Andy Bishop could be seen as the result of domestic violence.
  • It could be seen as a conflict.
  • This brought that committee into disrepute and could be seen as an attempt to rush through an opinion of the European Parliament without an honest and transparent debate and procedure.
  • Madam President, enlargement of NATO could be seen as one of the few true post-Cold War success stories.
  • Indeed this could be seen as a way of influencing UN negotiations on the future of Western Sahara.
  • So he could be seen to be responsible?
  • In this respect, the report could be seen as a step in the right direction.
  • An attack like this could be seen as an attempt to muzzle her because of certain publications or articles she wrote.
  • The duplication of tests should be avoided where standards are comparable, as they could be seen as obstacles to trade.
  • The crisis in Iraq could be seen as an additional element of uncertainty in an environment of a postponed recovery due to earlier shocks for world trade, capital flows and investment plans rather than a shock by itself.
  • taking the barrier down, first, could be seen as an olive branch.
  • Th killing could be seen as poetic justice.
  • This in no way could be seen as gloating.
  • You can't do anything that could be seen as coercion.
  • Which could be seen as a good thing.

Alternatives:

  • was visible
  • was observable
  • was noticeable
  • was apparent
  • was evident

Related Comparisons

can clearly be seen vs can be clearly seen may be seen vs can be seen can be seen clearly vs can clearly be seen clearly can be seen vs can clearly be are can be seen vs is can be seen it can be seen vs As can be seen

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