Could/would/might have done?

Question

Hi. When could we use the phrases such as "would have done," "could have done" and "might have done"? Do they only have be in third conditional contexts? I think a third conditional sentence is what you envision what might hypothetically have been true in the past at the present.

Some possible contexts to use these?

Do you think he did it? I think he might have done it but I am not sure.

Do you think he could have done it? I think he could have done it but I am not sure.

But I think, unlike the other two, the use of the phrase "would have been" has to be in a third condtional context.

Fandorin · Accepted Answer

AnonymousHi. When could we use the phrases such as "would have done," "could have done" and "might have done"?

In a very many ways.

Anonymous Do Can they only ~~have~~ be in third conditional contexts? I think a third conditional sentence is what you envision what might hypothetically have been true in the past at the present.

Underlined makes no sense. Third Conditional is what might have happened in the past, but it did not happen.

AnonymousDo you think he did it? I think he might have done it but I am not sure.

Perhaps he did it, perhaps he did not. Right, I just suggest that he did it.

AnonymousDo you think he could have done it? I think he could have done it but I am not sure.

He did not do it.

_______________________________________

Difference between them is as following:

may/might + Perfect Infinitive : He might/may have accomplished it. I don't know, because he is abroad now.

could + Perfect Infinitive: You could not have seen him. He was with me at that day farther than 1000 miles away when you were.

Fandorin · Answer

This can be useful, too.

MrPernickety · Answer

AnonymousHi. When could we use the phrases such as "would have done," "could have done" and "might have done"? Do they only have be in third conditional contexts? I think a third conditional sentence is what you envision what might hypothetically have been true in the past at the present.

Some possible contexts to use these?

Do you think he did it? I think he might have done it but I am not sure.

Do you think he could have done it? I think he could have done it but I am not sure.

But I think, unlike the other two, the use of the phrase "would have been" has to be in a third condtional context.

You could've done research of your own on the subject of "could/might have done" )))

The long and the short of it is, "could/might have done" express some idea in a tentative manner, the speaker lacks confidence in what he's saying, the only difference between the two from my perspective being that

He could have murdered his wife = he had an opportunity to do it, whether he availed himself of it or not is unknown

He might have murdered his wife = I'm not sure he did it, by the look of it he might have, or on the other hand he might have not (I think it is more tentative than with "could have")

Also, bear in mind that rarely do native speakers say "could have done", they contract it to "could've done" so in the end it sounds like "could/would/might of done". By the way, that is the reason why most native speakers write "could/would/might of done" in place of the correct "could/would/might've done"

Good luck !

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousDo you think he did it? I think he might have done it but I am not sure.

Do you think he could have done it? I think he could have done it but I am not sure.

But I think, unlike the other two, the use of the phrase "would have been" has to be in a third condtional context.

No. All three can be used in similar contexts, not necessarily in third conditionals. The would does almost imply an unstated if clause, however, if that's what you mean, but then if clauses might just as easily accompany the versions with might or could.

Do you think he [might / could / would] have done it?
I think he [might / could / would] have done it, but I'm not sure.

CJ

Fandorin · Answer

Hi CalifJim. So, could + Perf.Infinitive may indicate something happened, right? Simply saying, do my thougths correct? Especially this one: Third Conditional is what might have happened in the past, but it did not happen. Thank you in advance.

Fandorin · Answer

*(are my thoughts correct?) <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/16.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/16.gif' alt='Emotion: zip it!'/>

CalifJim · Answer

FandorinSo, could + Perf.Infinitive may indicate something happened, right?

could indicates potential only, not actuallity. I think you don't want to say "may indicate (that) something happened", but "indicates that something may have happened".

could have has two major uses.

1. Why did Henry climb that tree yesterday? Didn't he realize how dangerous that was?
He could have fallen and killed himself! (But he didn't. He's safe at home now.)

2. I have no idea where Henry is. I wonder if he has gone and climbed that tree. I hope not.
He could have fallen and killed himself! (I don't know if he has fallen or not.)

1. It was possible in the past for him to fall. But we know now that he did not fall.

2. It is possible now that he has already fallen. But we don't know if he has fallen.
____

The "third conditional" is an if statement -- two clauses.

If he had walked to the top of the hill, he could have seen a beautiful view of the city.

(Implication: He did not walk there. He did not see a beautiful view.)

This formulation is more related to Example 1 above.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you.

You wrote:

No. All three can be used in similar contexts, not necessarily in third conditionals. The would does almost imply an unstated if clause, however, if that's what you mean, but then if clauses might just as easily accompany the versions with might or could.

Do you think he [might / could / would] have done it?

I think he [might / could / would] have done it, but I'm not sure.

Could we have put the word "always" in one of your sentences and that would make no difference (or perhaps better say) what you (might?) wanted to say?

Your sentence with the word "always" added:

The would does almost always imply an unstated if clause, however, if that's what you mean, but then if clauses might just as easily accompany the versions with might or could.

What if I see a sentence that has the phrase "would have done" with no possibilty of having an if-clause (as I seem to have envisioned it)? Is that possible?

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousThe would does almost imply an unstated if clause

The word "always" was not mistakenly omitted, no. My statement means that we might be almost (but not completely) correct in saying that the word would implies an if clause.

AnonymousWhat if I see a sentence that has the phrase "would have done" with no possibilty of having an if-clause (as I seem to have envisioned it)? Is that possible?

Yes. That certainly seems possible.

CJ

Fandorin · Answer

I guess I get it.

CalifJim I have no idea where Henry is. I wonder if he has gone and climbed that tree. I hope not.
He could have fallen and killed himself! (I don't know if he has fallen or not.)

Here could approximates to might/would(as you mentioned above), right? And it can indicate less probability if it may be said so, can not it? And strictly speaking, if we lack context, we cannot figure out that something happened or not.

CalifJimcould indicates potential only, not actuallity. I think you don't want to say "may indicate (that) something happened", but "indicates that something may have happened".

That's true.

I mean it.

Thank you, Jim.

Could/would/might have done?

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