Is it correct to use can or could for the sentence below?
The plane ticket would allow Bob to meet Jim so that he (can/could) talk with him.
The plane ticket would allow Bob to meet Jim so that he (can/could) talk with him.
can or could
Hello Alaba,
1. X would allow Y to meet Z so that he can do ABC.
— This suggests that "doing ABC" is still possible. Someone might say this during a planning meeting, for example.
2. X would allow Y to meet Z so that he could do ABC.
— This suggests that "doing ABC" is still possible; but it also suggests greater tentativeness on the part of the speaker towards that possibility.
#2 might also relate to an incident entirely in the past, i.e. where "doing ABC" is not regarded as a present possibility. For instance, in a narrative about espionage during the Second World War you might encounter such a structure.
Best wishes,
MrP
1. X would allow Y to meet Z so that he can do ABC.
— This suggests that "doing ABC" is still possible. Someone might say this during a planning meeting, for example.
2. X would allow Y to meet Z so that he could do ABC.
— This suggests that "doing ABC" is still possible; but it also suggests greater tentativeness on the part of the speaker towards that possibility.
#2 might also relate to an incident entirely in the past, i.e. where "doing ABC" is not regarded as a present possibility. For instance, in a narrative about espionage during the Second World War you might encounter such a structure.
Best wishes,
MrP
I'd keep the conditional on both
would allow Bob to meet Jim so he could talk with him
would allow Bob to meet Jim so he could talk with him