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Viceidol Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

Using "might have done" to replace "could have done"

0He knew that she 01b01font00couldn't02font00 have stolen02b00 it.02br
02br
00He knew that she01b00 01font00might not02font00 have stolen02b00 it. 02br
02br
00May I ask if the second example is correct? Thank you very much!0-
  

Top answer

02i 00 = It is impossible that she stole it. 02i 00 = It is possible that she did not steal it. (It is unknown whether she stole it.

— CalifJim

  • 02i 00 = It is impossible that she stole it.
  • 02i 00 = It is possible that she did not steal it.
  • (It is unknown whether she stole it.
  • )02br 00CJ 0-
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2 Answers
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0Both are correct, but they have completely different meanings.02br
01i00She couldn't have stolen it.02i00 = It is impossible that she stole it. (She most certainly did not steal it.)02br
02br
01i00She might not have stolen it.02i00 = It is possible that she did not steal it. (It is unknown whether she stole it. Maybe she d
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0Thank you, Jim. Now I know what their difference is.0-
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