would have p.p. / could have p.p.

Question

I would like to know the difference between "would have p.p. " and " could have p.p." when I want to mention something that has a possibility to have happened in the past.

For example,

It was cold last night and he is coughing now.
Usually he is very healty and never seems to catch a cold.
But,
1)He would have caught a cold last night.
2)He could have caught a cold last night.

I think I can use "may/might have p.p." with the same meaning as the sentences above except for the differences of the degree of possibilities.
Is my understanding correct??

Thank you in advance!

RandomGuy · Accepted Answer

H MHe would have caught a cold last night.

This has an implied conditional (e.g., … if he hadn’t dressed properly), which is not what you mean.

You can use could/may/might have interchangeably for the meaning you intend.

GPY · Answer

H MI would like to know the difference between "would have p.p. " and " could have p.p." when I want to mention something that has a possibility to have happened in the past.

Note also that in some situations "would have p.p." can express the speaker's belief or assumption that something did happen. For example: "He's very security-conscious; he would have made sure the door was locked." This meaning seems unlikely in your "caught a cold" example, though.

H M · Answer

Thanks a lot for your explanation!

Now I'm wondering, can "would have p.p." be used only as a conditional?
You can never use to mention the possibility in the past?
I mean, to guess something that might have happened.

RandomGuy · Answer

H MYou can never use it to mention the possibility in the past?
I mean, to guess something that might have happened.

Never.

H M · Answer

Thanks a lot! :-)

H M · Answer

I got it!
I seemed to be confused with the speaker's belief or assumption and the possibility in the past.

I really appreciate your help!
Now I feel very good :-)

would have p.p. / could have p.p.

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions