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Anonymous Posted 8 years ago
Grammar

Infinitive tense

Hello guys,

I have some difficulties using modal verbs with the infinitive forms that refer to the future.

Can I say for instance:

I can have written a book before I turn 40?


Thank you

  

Top answer

anonymous I can have written a book before I turn 40? The way you have written this, it looks as if the question mark is part of the actual sentence. I'll assume that's not the case, and that you mean to ask about this sentence: I can have written a book before I turn 40.

— GPY

  • anonymous I can have written a book before I turn 40?
  • The way you have written this, it looks as if the question mark is part of the actual sentence.
  • I'll assume that's not the case, and that you mean to ask about this sentence: I can have written a book before I turn 40.
  • No, it is not a good sentence.
  • If you use "may" or "might" instead of "can" then the sentence is possible, but phrased in a slightly unusual way.
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2 Answers
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anonymousI can have written a book before I turn 40?

The way you have written this, it looks as if the question mark is part of the actual sentence. I'll assume that's not the case, and that you mean to ask about this sentence:

I can have written a book before I turn 40.

No, it is not a good sentence.

If you use "may" or "might" ins

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anonymousI can have written a book before I turn 40?

That is not grammatical.

I could have written a book before I turned 40. (You are 50 now. You didn't write a book before you were 40, but you had the ability to do that. )
I hope I can write a book before I turn 40. (You are 35 now.)

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