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It might have been like this.It could have been like this.Now what is the difference of meaning in both sentences please explain.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Liton Das
(1) It might have been like this.
(2) It could have been like this.
Now what is the difference of in meaning in ~~both~~ these sentences? Please explain.

In most contexts (1) (might have been) and (2) (could have been) have the same meanings, shown below.

(a) It is possible that (it was like this).
(b) It had the potential to (become like this), but it didn't (become like this).

There is a tendency to use (1) with meaning (a) and to use (2) with meaning (b), but (1) and (2) can be interchangeable. I've underlined the more probable choice in the sentences below. As you can see, the choice may depend on the meaning the speaker wants to convey.

He [might / could] have been famous.
(Maybe he was famous; maybe he was not famous.)

He [could / might] have been famous.
(If he had tried harder, he would have become famous, but he didn't try hard enough so he didn't become famous.)

CJ

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