Teo  +  229530 Sat, 27 May 06 07:35 AM How could you __ that yesterday? (A) do (B) have done Which choice is correct? Teo Joined on Tue, Sep 28 2004 Taiwan Contributing Member 1,631 Thank you very much for your reply.

	Marius Hancu  +  229626 Sat, 27 May 06 04:02 PM I think you can have both. How could you do that yesterday? (astonishment/surprise at the person for really having done a perhaps awful thing) How could you have done that yesterday? It was clear you didn't have the time for it. (A rhetorical question. The action/thing was not done, because the person didn't have time to do it. Thus how can one, that person or a third party, pretend that it was feasible?) Marius Hancu Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006 Veteran Member 11,673

	Philip  +  229633 Sat, 27 May 06 04:34 PM  Marius Hancu wrote: I think you can have both. (astonishment/surprise at the person for really having done a perhaps awful thing) (A rhetorical question. The action/thing was not done, because the person didn't have time to do it. Thus how can one, that person or a third party, pretend that it was feasible?) I think both interpretations are possible, but I don't see any connection between meaning and tense.  I'd use "have done" for either, out of personal choice. Philip Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005 Veteran Member 8,733 At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen Tenses

	Keewi  +  229775 Sun, 28 May 06 04:57 AM Personally, the meaning is not clear or incompleted. Therefore, you can use all of them. Am I right ? Keewi Joined on Sun, Apr 23 2006 Western Australia New Member 41 {!#*k e e w i*#!} I miss home.

	Clive  +  229795 Sun, 28 May 06 07:42 AM Hi guys, I agree that both are possible. In both cases, I think that two interpretations are possible. 1. You didn't do it. I know you didn't do it. How could anyone expect you to have done it? 2. You did it. I'm shocked. I demand to know what led you to do it. There is a subtle difference arising from the two tense choices. How could you do that yesterday? This means 'How could you actually do the act?' How could you have done that yesterday? The perfect tense means 'How could you be in a state of having done the act?' Best wishes, Clive Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,594 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo Tenses