Teacher Discussion Forums

Which is correct to say: "I can't have accepted his offer. He was so annoying." or "I couldn't have accepted his offer. He was so annoying." Could they both be correct?

Hmm...

I can't accept his offer - he is/was so annoying.

I can't have accepted his offer - he is/was so annoying.
I couldn't've/wouldn't've accepted his offer (even for a million dollars more) - he is/was so annoying.

I couldn't accept his offer - he is/was so annoying.

If the first is correct, you probably need to be urgently checked for Alzhemers, or at least cut down on the booze-related benders!

"I can't have accepted his offer" is an example of epistemic modality. For those of you who, like me, have to pick up a reference book to remember what epistemic means, that is to say what is under consideration is solely the fact of whether you accepted his offer or not, something quite external to your emotions or feelings

"I couldn't have accepted his offer" could be epistemic, but is more likely to be referring to your innate incapacity to accept an offer from soemebody obnoxiuous. You are not expressing incredulity at being told you did in fact accept his offer, but are saying that his obnoxiousness made it impossible for you to do so. Note there is a difference between "I couldn't accept his offer" and "I couldn't have accepted his offer" - somehow the second clause is more of a hypothetical discussion.

Nice explanation, SJ!

Stephen Jones wrote:Note there is a difference between "I couldn't accept his offer" and "I couldn't have accepted his offer" - somehow the second clause is more of a hypothetical discussion.

Isn't the second one more "I couldn't have accepted his offer, even if he'd made one/an offer"?

Or even "I couldn't have allowed myself to accept...", and therefore, Dynamic modality.