How do you use "could have + past participle" in a sentence?

You could have warned me! She could have been a star. I could have done better. They could have taken a taxi.

could have + past participle

Q: What does "could have + past participle" mean?

Past possibilities that did not happen Expresses unrealized past possibilities or abilities. 'You could have won' = you had the ability/opportunity but didn't. Can express criticism: 'You could have told me!' Also for speculation.

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Significado: Past possibilities that did not happen

未发生的过去可能性

Posibilidades pasadas que no ocurrieron

起こらなかった過去の可能性

실현되지 않은 과거의 가능성

Expresses unrealized past possibilities or abilities. 'You could have won' = you had the ability/opportunity but didn't. Can express criticism: 'You could have told me!' Also for speculation.

表达未实现的过去可能性或能力。'You could have won' = 你有能力/机会但没有。可以表达批评：'You could have told me!' 也可用于推测。

Expresa posibilidades o habilidades pasadas no realizadas. 'You could have won' = tenías la capacidad/oportunidad pero no lo hiciste. Puede expresar crítica: 'You could have told me!' También para especulación.

実現しなかった過去の可能性や能力を表します。「You could have won」= あなたには能力/機会があったのにしなかった。批判を表すこともできます：「You could have told me!」推測にも使えます。

실현되지 않은 과거의 가능성이나 능력을 표현한다. 'You could have won' = 능력/기회가 있었지만 하지 않았다. 비판을 표현할 수도 있다: 'You could have told me!' 추측에도 사용된다.

Ejemplos

You could have warned me!
你本可以警告我的！
¡Podrías haberme advertido!
警告してくれてもよかったのに！
미리 알려줄 수도 있었잖아!
She could have been a star.
她本可以成为明星的。
Ella podría haber sido una estrella.
彼女はスターになれたかもしれない。
그녀는 스타가 될 수도 있었다.
I could have done better.
我本可以做得更好。
Podría haberlo hecho mejor.
もっとうまくできたはずだ。
더 잘할 수 있었는데.
They could have taken a taxi.
他们本可以打出租车的。
Podrían haber tomado un taxi.
タクシーに乗ることもできたのに。
택시를 탈 수도 있었는데.

Pronunciación

Guía de uso

Contexto: spoken, written, everyday

Tono: critical

✓ Correcto

You could have asked me first.
你本可以先问我的。
Podrías haberme preguntado primero.
先に聞いてくれてもよかったのに。
먼저 나한테 물어봤어도 됐잖아.
We could have avoided this problem.
我们本可以避免这个问题。
Podríamos haber evitado este problema.
この問題は避けられたはずだ。
이 문제를 피할 수도 있었다.
It could have been worse.
事情本来可能更糟。
Podría haber sido peor.
もっと悪いこともあり得た。
더 나빴을 수도 있었다.
You could have come.
你本来可以来的。
Podrías haber venido.
来ることもできたのに。
올 수도 있었잖아.
He could have gone.
他本来可以去的。
Él podría haberse ido.
彼は行くこともできたのに。
그는 갈 수도 있었다.

✗ Incorrecto

You could of come. (use 'have')
You could of come.（应使用'have'）
You could of come. (usar 'have')
You could of come.（「have」を使う）
You could of come.（'have'를 사용）
He could have went. (use 'gone')
He could have went.（应使用'gone'）
He could have went. (usar 'gone')
He could have went.（「gone」を使う）
He could have went.（'gone'을 사용）

Origen e historia

Unrealized past possibility

Contexto cultural

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Más de este tema

would have + past participle ★★★★★ Hypothetical past actions or missed opportunities Modal Perfects ★★★★☆ Modal + have + past participle for past speculation or re... would rather / would sooner ★★★★☆ Expressing preferences, often contrary to expectations can't have vs mustn't have ★★★★☆ Deductions about impossible past events might have / could have (Criticism) ★★★★☆ Criticizing someone for not doing something would (Annoying Habits) ★★★★☆ Expressing irritation about typical behavior