could have p.p.

Question

I'd like to know if my understanding in regard to "could have p.p." in the sentence 1) below is correct or not...

1) It seems that the only way this could have been done was by placing the trees along the ground and then sliding the statues across the trees from quarry to the ahu.

A) In this case, "could have been done" is just a perfect form of "could be done"?

B) If so, the reason why "could" is used instead of "can" is to show less possibility than "can"?

C) And if there is just a difference of the level of the possibility,
can I say "can have been done" instead of "could have been done " with the same meaning except for the level of the possibility?

D) Also, can I say 1) like this:

2) The only way this could be done seems to have been by placing the trees along the ground and then sliding the statues across the trees from quarry to the ahu.

Or should I still say "could have been done" instead of "could be done"?

Thank you!

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

H M It seems that the only way this could have been done was by placing the trees along the ground and then sliding the statues across the trees from quarry to the ahu.

~ ... the only way that it [would / might] have been possible to do this was by ...

H MA) In this case, "could have been done" is just a perfect form of "could be done"?

I don't see that "this case" has anything to do with it. 'have been' is the perfect of 'be', so this is always true. Nothing in the discussion hinges on this distinction, however, because the perfect forms with modals don't act quite the same as the perfect forms of other verbs.

H MB) If so, the reason why "could" is used instead of "can" is to show less possibility than "can"?

No. The strange thing is that we don't use 'can have' with a past participle very much (though we do use 'can't have' with a past participle). I recommend using 'may have' or 'might have' instead of 'can have' in cases where it has that meaning, and most of the time that's the intended meaning.

H MThe only way this could be done seems to have been by placing the trees along the ground and then sliding the statues across the trees from quarry to the ahu.

Here there are two possible meanings:

1) The only way this could be done ~ The only way that it might be possible to do this (if you wanted to do it in the future) In this case you would need to continue with 'seems to be by placing ...'.
2) The only way this could be done ~ The only way that it was possible to do this (successfully) (and it was done successfully) In this case you would need to continue with 'was by placing ...'.

H MOr should I still say "could have been done" instead of "could be done"?

Yes. You should still say 'could have been done' — unless it is your goal to change the meaning.

CJ

H M · Answer

Thank you so much for your explanation!

I really appreciate it! :-)

H M · Answer

Thank you so much for your detailed explanation!!!

I got it! :-)

CalifJim · Answer

H MI got it!

Great!

CJ

could have p.p.

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