speculate – English Grammar Profiler

C2, MODALITY, PAST, speculate / accomplished, anticipated, arisen, could, evolved, foreseen, have, not, VVN, XX

Here are examples of speculating about the past using this form: He COULDN’T HAVE SAID he loves you! I am still married to him!

It COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.

B2, C1, disapproval, MODALITY, PAST, possibility, regret, speculate / avoided, could, easily, had, have, imagined, VVN, worse

In the English Grammar Profile, C1 point 179 in MODALITY is defined as:  ‘could have’ + ‘-ed’ form to express disapproval or criticism. True insights into usage are problematic, to say the least.  Who knows what the person using language truly was intending to do with it?  Disapproval or criticism vs speculation or regret is …

COULD HAVE + past participle Read More »