0
Laborious Posted 6 years ago
Grammar

Expressing the idea that something possibly happened in the past

Hi:

Could we use any of these when we want to express the idea that it's possible that something happened in the past?

1. Could have: "Who could have left the stove on?" or "She couldn't have recognised you or would've spoken to you".


2. May have: "Something bad may have happened to them. They are supposed to be here now".


3. Might have: "You did it wrong. It might have been that you weren't listening to the instructions carefully".


4. Must have: "It must have rained last night. The grass is still wet".


What I'd like to know is that if we can use the "negative" and "interrogative" varients or forms of the above forms to express possibilities in the past; to say that something possibly happened or didn't happen before now.

For example:

1.1) Couldn't have done something

1.2) Could someone have done something?


2.1) May not have done something

2.2) May someone have done something?


3.1) Might not have done something

3.2) Might someone have done something?


4.1) Must have done something

4.2) Must someone have done something?




I hope you understand my question. If you don't, please let me know.


Thank you all!

  

Top answer

Laborious Could we use any of these when we want to express the idea that it's possible that something happened in the past? Generally speaking, we use might have or, in more formal language, may have . could have is a sort of honorary member of this group.

  • Laborious Could we use any of these when we want to express the idea that it's possible that something happened in the past?
  • Generally speaking, we use might have or, in more formal language, may have .
  • could have is a sort of honorary member of this group.
  • Sometimes it has the same meaning as the other two, but not always.
  • must have is considered a different idea.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

1 Answers
0
LaboriousCould we use any of these when we want to express the idea that it's possible that something happened in the past?

Generally speaking, we use might have or, in more formal language, may have. could have is a sort of honorary member of this group. Sometimes it has the same meaning as the other two, but not always.

mus

Related Questions