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LeGion12359 Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Confusion between Modal Verbs

1. It’s ten o’clock. They could have arrived now.
2. They could have arrived hours ago.
What is the tense of the above two?
Can we use "would, might or may" in the above two sentences instead of 'could' without changing its meaning?
  

Top answer

'Could have arrive is not a tensed form; it is a modal perfect form. You cannot change the modal without changing the meaning in some way, though the possible meanings of could have + 3rd form and may/might have + 3rd form overlap.

— Fivejedjon

  • 'Could have arrive is not a tensed form; it is a modal perfect form.
  • You cannot change the modal without changing the meaning in some way, though the possible meanings of could have + 3rd form and may/might have + 3rd form overlap.
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8 Answers
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'Could have arrive is not a tensed form; it is a modal perfect form. You cannot change the modal without changing the meaning in some way, though the possible meanings of could have + 3rd form and may/might have + 3rd form overlap.
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LeGion12359What is the tense of the above two?
'Modal perfect' is a good description.
LeGion12359Can we use "would, might or may"
'might' and 'may' work for me. Not 'would'.

CJ
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CalifJim'Modal perfect' is a good description.
I searched the internet, but couldn't find any definition of Modal perfect. Could you tell me what is it actually ?
It looks like a present perfect( have+ past participle) with a modal verb(could) preceding it.
CalifJim'might' and 'may' work for me. Not 'would'.
What if I
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LeGion12359I searched the internet, but couldn't find any definition of Modal perfect. Could you tell me what is it actually ?It looks like a present perfect( have+ past participle) with a modal verb(could) preceding it.
http://www.englishpage.com/modals/modalforms.html
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LeGion12359What if I use 'would' instead,what change will occur?
You'll lose the uncertainty associated with the other modals you asked about. These (may, might, could) all suggest "maybe". "would" does not.

CJ
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CalifJimYou'll lose the uncertainty associated with the other modals you asked about. These (may, might, could) all suggest "maybe". "would" does not.CJ
Thank you
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LeGion12359with (could, might or may), does the meaning of my sentence remain exactly the same or it will change a little bit?
No change in meaning in your sentence. However, as a general guideline, you should probably stick to "might" or "may" when you are trying to express uncertainty (maybe yes, maybe no). Personally, I use "might" all the time. I only u
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CalifJimNo change in meaning in your sentence. However, as a general guideline, you should probably stick to "might" or "may" when you are trying to express uncertainty (maybe yes, maybe no). Personally, I use "might" all the time. I only use "may" for slightly more formal situations. I rarely use "could" in the context where I mean "maybe".
Thank you once agai
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