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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

native speaker needed

hi! I need an english native speaker to answer this question
Is there any difference between these 2 sentences:
I could have not eaten that
I could not have eaten that
I have always been told that the right word order is "could not have past participle", but I think there is some difference in meaning between the 2 sentences.
I checked out all my grammar books and "could not have eaten" always appears as the right choice.
Thank you
  

Top answer

I could have not eaten that is possible with the meaning I could have chosen not to eat that , but the full form with the verb choose is the better way to say it. That's not the same as I could not have eaten that , which means I would not have been able to eat that . Your grammar books are focusing on the meaning that would most likely come to mind, and giving you the proper word order for only that meaning.

— CalifJim

  • I could have not eaten that is possible with the meaning I could have chosen not to eat that , but the full form with the verb choose is the better way to say it.
  • That's not the same as I could not have eaten that , which means I would not have been able to eat that .
  • Your grammar books are focusing on the meaning that would most likely come to mind, and giving you the proper word order for only that meaning.
  • CJ
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1 Answers
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I could have not eaten that is possible with the meaning I could have chosen not to eat that, but the full form with the verb choose is the better way to say it.
That's not the same as I could not have eaten that, which means I would not have been able to eat that.
Your grammar books are focusing on the meaning that would most likely come to mind, and giv
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