Would Have P.P. / Could Have P.P.

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Would Have P.P. / Could Have P.P.

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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!

May 16 2013 08:56:42

Comments

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.

May 16 2013 13:39:28

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.

May 16 2013 17:10:13

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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.

May 16 2013 22:58:29

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

Never.

May 16 2013 23:01:45

Thanks a lot! :-)

May 16 2013 23:07:33

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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 :-)

May 16 2013 23:12:30

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

Answer this Question

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