My FEELING as a native speaker of standard English is that COULD is
highly preferable.  This is reinforced by knowledge of Latin in which
finite verbs embedded in subjunctive clauses are also in the subjunctive
"by attraction."  In a deeper sense, however, isn't the real answer that
there is no answer?  In the absence of official arbiters, it is hard to
see what it would mean to say that CAN is "incorrect."  Some people would
use it in that context, others wouldn't.  End of story.

On Tue, 19 Sep 2000, SIRAISI Tomio wrote:

> Hello everyone.
>
> Today I want to learn about the subjunctive mood.
>
> Is the following sentence grammatically incorrect?
>
> (1)The little child is lonely; he would be happier if he had someone that he
> can play with.
>
> Some reference books insist that we should say "could play with" instead of
> "can play with". But some other grammar books argue that there is no need to
> do so.
>
> I have thought that (1) is correct. Am I wrong?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> SIRAISI Tomio
>