‘I could eat a horse’ vs. ‘I could have eaten a horse’
I could eat a horse: This is an idiomatic expression. You must use ‘COULD’ (NOT can) when you don’t really mean what you say. We don’t mean that one will eat a horse, it is an exaggerated statement. The following situations relate to ‘NOW’ (i.e. present situations) I could eat a horse! (i.e. I am so hungry and I feel like eating a very large amount of food.) -(present) He is so angry with her. He could kill her! ( i.e. present) He could beat…