grammar · neutral

could have + past participle

Band 6-7speakingtask2

Used to talk about past possibilities (uncertain) or to say that something was possible but did not happen.

Examples

“If you'd left earlier, you could have caught the 7:30 train.”

“I could have been a teacher if I'd studied differently.”

“She could have gone home; I saw her coat was missing.”

Band 8 sentence

“Had the weather been better, we could have extended the outdoor festival by another week.”

Collocations

  • could have + V3 (possibility/regret)
  • could have been + V3

Common mistakes

I could went if I wanted.→I could have gone if I had wanted.

I could have went.→I could have gone.

Say it for a higher band

5I could went yesterday.→6I could go if I wanted.→7+I could have gone if I had wanted.

Synonyms

might have + V3

Easily confused

would have + past participle

“If you'd asked, I would have helped you.”

Related words

have / has + past participlesubject + V(s) (simple present)be about to + base verbbe + V-ingso + adjective/adverb + that + clauseIf + present perfect, will + base verbwill have been + V-ingNot only + clause, but also + clause

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In Tenses

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