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Intrepid
Joined: 13 May 2004
Location: Yongin
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 Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 6:59 pm Post subject: can't have VS. couldn't have + past participle |
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My grammar books don't cover this point--is there any difference? It feels like there might be, but every time I summon a situation to mind, both phrases spring to mind(with "can't have" getting much less play).
Little help? |
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Moldy Rutabaga
Joined: 01 Jul 2003
Location: Ansan, Korea
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| Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:37 pm Post subject: |
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You might need an example to make your question clearer. Do you mean that the difference between can't have (x)-ed and couldn't have (x)-ed is fuzzy to you?
Sue can't have gone to the movie.
Sue couldn't have gone to the movie.
I suppose the can't have suggests that she is still at the movie now or travelling there, and couldn't have suggests that the time is in the past, and the movie is now over or well in progress.
Ken:> |
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