Present/future unreal conditional?

Question

I have found an explanation in Practical English Usage by Michael Swan.

We sometimes use structures with "would have ..." to talk about present and future situations which are no longer possible because of the way things have turned out.

If my thinking is right, this explanation is about how to understand present/future unreal conditional. And this explanation can apply to both "would have pp" and "could have pp", right?
For example, I can say in following sentences we can use "would have pp" and "could have pp" interchangeably without changing the meaning, right?
It would/could have been nice to go to Australia this winter, but there's no way we can do it. (or It would/could be nice ...)
You would/could have given/been giving a recital at the Moscow Conservatory next week if you'd practised your violin properly twenty years ago." (or You would/could give/be giving ...)

Thank you in advance.

Mgdoyle · Accepted Answer

They aren't exactly the same, there is a nuance in emphasis differentiating the two.

It would have been nice to go to Australia this winter. This means that if things had worked out such the trip had been made, there is no doubt about it being a nice trip.

It would have been nice to go to Australia this winter. This means that if things had worked out such the trip had been made, there is a chance—likely a good chance—of it being a nice trip.

You would have given a recital at the Moscow Conservatory next week if you'd practiced your violin. There is no doubt about a recital by you next week if you had practiced.

You could have given a recital at the Moscow Conservatory next week if you'd practiced your violin. You would have been in shape to give a recital, you would have been able to do so, but there's no guarantee that the recital would actually happen because of scheduling, lack of desire on your part, or other reasons.

Think of the difference between "will" and "can". It's really the same thing. "It will be nice to go to Australia this winter" is more certain than "It can be nice to go to Australia this winter". "You will give a recital next week" is more certain than "You can give a recital next week".

Edit: Corrected double hyphens (which causes strike-outs) to dashes (Alt 0151). CJ

CalifJim · Answer

zuotengdazuowe can use "would have pp" and "could have pp" interchangeably without changing the meaning, right?

No, I'm afraid not.

could indicates only the potential for doing something; would indicates the actual doing of it. 'would do' implies 'could do', but 'could do' does not imply 'would do'.

CJ

Present/future unreal conditional?

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