I know. From VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar. Her infidelity gave him the opportunity to meet someone else. Could have is a modal verb phrase. Listen to this song by 1980s teen pop star Tiffany. He was jailed five years ago and could be released next year. A popular compliment in English is, “I couldn’t have said it better myself.” You can say this when you like the way somebody said something. There is sometimes little difference in meaning whether be or have been passive forms are used. We’ll start with could have. could definition: 1. past simple of "can", used to talk about what someone or something was able or allowed to do…. | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples (She was able to win the competition, but she didn't.) But now I’m nothing but a cripple!”. Here are some examples with explanations: I have been a designer since 1994. For example: If I had known they were vegetarians, I would have made a salad. When we are talking about the present: If the subject of a sentence is I – You – We – They or a plural noun (cars, birds, children) we use ‘have been‘. You are what he could ever want and more. “Have + been” marks the past tense. It usually describes something that was possible, but didn’t happen anyway. For example: “If I had worked harder, I could have been more successful.” Or Learn more. You could have passed the test if you had studied for it. If would have comes first, there is no comma. But not always. In this song, country singer Toby Keith imagines how exciting his life would be if he had chosen to be a cowboy. An improvement in living standards could be years away. The sentence means that there is evidence of that person having been in that place, at some point, although the person himself is not there now. Meaning of could have been. have been around v expr verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end." It could have been Dan, but I’m not sure. Adam Brock wrote this article for VOA Learning English. - If John had won the contest, he would have been happier. In this case, both forms are similar in meaning. While Can’t Have (Been) is used to refer to an incident in the near past, Couldn’t Have (Been) is used for an event that happened way back in the past. It is part of the conditional past tenses of most verbs. Definition of COULD HAVE (DONE SOMETHING) (phrase): saying that something was possible in past; saying that perhaps something was true Join Macmillan Dictionary on Twitter and Facebook for daily word facts, quizzes and language news. Usage of “Have Been & Has Been” ‘Has been’ and ‘have been’ suggest an action that started in the past, but continues in the present. He would have died, but Forrest saved him. The future perfect forms of will have been to and will have gone to both indicate that a person will have visited a location before a point in time in the future. Would have also forms the result clause of a past unreal conditional. Meaning of could have been. You might remember Lieutenant Dan in the movie Forrest Gump. Change your default dictionary to American English. To form the negative with these modals, use not between could and have. In this song by the band Chicago, the singer is surprisingly happy that his ex-girlfriend cheated on him. could-have-been name meaning available! They are designed to find answers that right now the Government feels it cannot give. You should have called!”. However, we believe if certain conditions were met, then things could have been different. The code has been copied to your clipboard. When it comes to modal verbs — the verbs that express necessity or possibility — many learners find them rather confusing. It’s all part of a plan. Definition and synonyms of could have (done something) from the online English dictionary from Macmillan Education. What does could have been mean? Could have "Could have" can be used with several meanings. And that someone else turned out to be his true love. I could have told you, but I didn’t think you would listen. Could definition is - —used in auxiliary function in the past, in the past conditional, and as an alternative to can suggesting less force or certainty or as a polite form in the present. Let's say 1. A worried mother might say: “I was so worried about you. (Meaning: They didn't leave earlier, so they are not here now.) There are four reviews that have been commissioned that sit below the roadmap. Login . "But he might have not sent out the invitations yet.". Can I have your name please? Login . informal (be experienced) tener mucha experiencia expr expresión : Expresiones idiomáticas, dichos, refranes y frases hechas de tres o más palabras ("Dios nos libre", "a lo hecho, pecho"). Been definition: Been is the past participle of → be 1 . I could have gone directly to college, but I decided to travel for a … I should have died out there with my men. Listen for should have as Dan confronts Forrest. Past tense of can1 1. What is the meaning of the sentence: He must have been here? They could have won the race, but they didn't try hard enough. The singer is thinking about past possibilities with her lost love. Examples: I could have phoned, but I preferred to talk to you personally. It's Future perfect continuous tense. Hi, We use 'Will have been' to specify some future event that would be happening at a certain point of time in future. “Could” is conditional. A lot of the fatalities probably could have been prevented but the actual catastrophe, this tsunami itself couldn’t have been prevented, you know, it’s one of those things that just happens that we have to accept that reality of life. Here are some examples: She could have gone to any college she wanted to. I would have made a salad if I had known they were vegetarians. The first is with but. I would have gone to the party, but I was tired. The definition of could've is something that potentially might have happened if it weren't for another alternative. Entries must have focused on a correspondence that could have been written by a soldier, peacekeeper, family member or some other person during wartime or in modern peacekeeping operations. (See also modals of ability.) How to use could … Native speakers often do not pronounce their past tense modals as clearly as Tiffany. The URL has been copied to your clipboard. You use could to indicate that something is possibly true, or that it may possibly happen. The explosion could have been caused by a gas leak. I should have woken up earlier. Could have means that something was possible in the past, but it did not happen. Meaning: I started my design career at 1994, and it continued up until now. As you can see, these modals of lost opportunities offer a colorful way to talk about past choices. She could have married Gerald if she’d wanted to. We use should have to talk about past mistakes. Have you ever been close to tragedy Or been close to folks who have? For example: I’m sorry that I’m late for work. It didn’t happen. I would have loaned you the money, but I didn’t have any. ​Now it's your turn. We’ll look at each of them using examples from movies and popular songs. Learn more. aux.v. Join us next week for more Everyday Grammar. In particular the version with could have been is more likely to mean that the possibility used to exist that the bridge would become the most famous in the world, suggesting that, for some reason, that possibility no longer exists. I coulda’ had class. I could have been somebody—instead of a bum.”. Used to indicate ability or permission in the past: I could … Finally, let’s look at should have. That’s all for this week. 3 years ago 40.6K Views. The decision could mean thousands of Uber drivers are entitled to minimum wage and holiday pay. I couldn’t have said it better myself. Now, you can also use the verb "be" as a main verb after "would have." Should have can be used in a light-hearted way. Each of these modals has a slightly different meaning. This sentence is in the Present Perfect tense. Past modals tell what could have, would have, and should have happened. He should have told the truth about what he saw. For example: She could not have been on that flight because I just saw her at work. My friends will have already been to the restaurant by the time I give it a try. Listen to Marlon Brando in the classic film “On the Waterfront.” Brando’s character, Terry Malloy, was once a promising young boxer. could synonyms, could pronunciation, could translation, English dictionary definition of could. I could have stayed up late, but I decided to go to bed early. What does could have been mean? Could have, would have, and should have are sometimes called “modals of lost opportunities.” They work like a grammatical time machine. Information and translations of could have been in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Define could. ‘The first thing to go for was a decent wash in fresh water as we could only have salt water to wash in on board.’ ‘I was stunned by the sheer volume of sound that twenty five singers could make.’ ‘It tried as hard as it could to rally in the third, but the game had long been out of reach.’ Nothing just happens. acc.gc.ca. ... meaning … This is the British English definition of could have (done something).View American English definition of could have (done something). Use this structure to show that you wanted to do something in the past, but you could not. Defense lawyers often use could not have to argue for a client’s innocence. The only thing that can give you comfort when you are in your most vulnerable state of questioning what could have been is realizing that every single person on this earth has or will experience what it is like to wish that someone who once was…still was. You could have the warmest regard for the other person but still, your emotions couldn’t be described as amorous. Past unreal conditionals are very complex; you can learn more about them on a previous episode of Everyday Grammar. Should have means that something did not happen, but we wish it had happened. acc.gc.ca. 1. As you may know, conditional grammar expresses an idea that is not real. I coulda’ been a contender. “You don’t understand. It is a way to show strong agreement. Could have means that something was possible in the past, but it did not happen. might-have-been definition: 1. something positive that could have been achieved, but was not: 2. something positive that could…. She could have won the competition, but in the end she gave up. I would have A, but I had to B. could-have-been name numerology is 9 and here you can learn how to pronounce could-have-been, could-have-been origin and similar names to could-have-been … What is something you could have / should have / would have done in the past? Today we will take a look at the modal verbs could have, would have and should have. The simple past just tells what happened. Hai Do was the editor. “You listen to me. See the sentences below, _______________________________________________________________, modal verb – n. a verb (such as can, could, shall, should, ought to, will, or would) that is usually used with another verb to express ideas such as possibility, necessity, and permission, contender – n. a person who tries to win something in a game or competition, bum – n. a person who is lazy or who does something badly, compliment – n. a comment that says something good about someone or something, vegetarian – n. a person who does not eat meat, infidelity – n. the act or fact of having a romantic or sexual relationship with someone other than your husband, wife, or partner, confront – v. to oppose someone, especially in a direct and forceful way, cripple – n. a person who cannot move or walk normally because of a permanent injury or other physical problem, six-shooter – n. a kind of gun (called a revolver) that can hold six bullets (often used to describe guns used in the old American West), cattle drive – n. the process of moving cows from one place to another. 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