past tense + must have done ?

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Viceidol  #491763  Sat, 22 Mar 08 10:53 AM
She thought that her purse must not have been found by one of the shoppers. (=...couldn't have been found by...)

May I ask if the above sentence is acceptable? I know that we can probably say "It mustn't been found by...", but I'm not sure if we can use "must not" in the above occasion.

Please give me your opinion, thank you!!

 

  
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Marius Hancu  #491768  Sat, 22 Mar 08 11:11 AM
I prefer could in this negative sentence.  
  
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