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Goat Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Could+have+participle-could you please...

Hi everybody,

Miki could have won. (I think possibility not ability)

The structure 'could + have + participle' always suggests 'possibility'. Am I correct?

Thank you
  

Top answer

The problem with 'could' is precisely because it can usually mean either possibility or ability and is often confusing; that is why it is better to use 'was able to' for past ability.

— Mister Micawber

  • The problem with 'could' is precisely because it can usually mean either possibility or ability and is often confusing; that is why it is better to use 'was able to' for past ability.
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3 Answers
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The problem with 'could' is precisely because it can usually mean either possibility or ability and is often confusing; that is why it is better to use 'was able to' for past ability.
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Thanks very much for your time and help, MM
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goatMiki could have won. (I think possibility not ability)
No. Either one. It's ambiguous.

a) M could have won = M had the ability to win, though he did not win.

b) M could have won = Maybe M won. It's possible that he won, but I don't know yet. Nobody has told me.

CJ
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