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We know from earlier Hints
that could has several different
uses
in present or future time, that could
also shows ability
in the past, and that could has a past form, could have,
which is followed by the past participle of the main verb:
The could have form is
also used in "if" sentences to show
unreal conditions in past time. Conditional sentences of
this
kind refer to hypothetical, impossible, contrary-to-fact,
unreal situations. In them, could have shows a possibility
that didn't happen.
Examples:
You could have asked for help if you had wanted to.
(It was possible for you to
ask for help, but you didnt want to.)
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If Julia had
had enough money, she could
have bought
a car.
(It wasn't possible for Julia
to buy a car because she didn't
have enough money.)
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Julia could have made
a down payment on a car if she
hadn't paid so
much money for her new computer.
(It wasn't possible for Julia
to make a down payment on
a car because she paid
too much money for her new computer.)
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Special
Notes:
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Remember that could have is
used to show
possibility in the past. It is not used to show
past ability or past
permission. |
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| 2. |
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To show past ability in unreal conditional sentences,
use had
been able or
would have been
able:
I would have helped you if
I had been able
to.
(I
didn't help you because I wasn't able to.)
If he had had enough time,
he would have
been
able to do a good job. (He wasn't able
to
do a good job because he didn't have enough time.)
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| 3. |
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To show past permission in unreal conditional
sentences,
use had had
permission:
I would have left early if
I had had permission.
(I didn't leave early because
I didn't have permission.)
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