Could Have

Could Have

 

We can use 'could have'  to talk about something somebody was capable of doing but didn't do.

• I could have gone to Oxford University but I preferred Harvard.
• She could have married him but she didn't want to.
• They could have bought a house here 20 years ago but chose not to.

Often, there is a sense of criticism.

• You could have phoned me to let me know.
• They could have helped me instead of just sitting there.
•  I could have done more to help you. Sorry.

We can use 'couldn't have' to talk about something we were not capable of doing.

• I couldn't have managed without you.
• I couldn't have got the job. He was always going to appoint his nephew.
• I couldn't have enjoyed myself more. Thank you for a lovely day.

We can use 'could have' to speculate about what has happened. (We can also use 'may have' or 'might have' in these situations.)

• She could have taken the earlier train.
• Simon could have told her.
• They could have overheard what we said.

We can also use 'can have' to speculate about what has happened but only in questions and negative sentences and with words such as 'hardly', 'never' and 'only'.

• Can she have forgotten about our meeting?
• He can't have seen us.
• They can hardly have thought that I was not interested in the job.

We can also use 'could have' to speculate about something that didn't happen.

• You could have broken your neck, jumping out the window like that.
• He could have hurt somebody, throwing a bottle out of the window like that.
• I could have done well in my exam if I'd worked harder.

You can also use 'could have' to talk about possible present situations that have not happened.

• I could have been earning a lot as an accountant but the work was just too boring.
• He could have been Prime Minister now but he got involved in a big financial scandal.
• They could have been the market leaders now if they had taken his advice.

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Should Have

Should Have

 

We can use 'should have' to talk about past events that did not happen.

• I should have let her know what was happening but I forgot.
• He should have sent everybody a reminder by email.
• They should have remembered that their guests don't eat pork.

We can also use 'should have' to speculate about events that may or may not have happened.

• She should have got the letter this morning. I expect she'll give us a call about it later.
• He should have arrived at his office by now. Let's try ringing him.
• They should have all read that first email by this stage. It's time to send the next one.

We can use ' should not have'  to speculate negatively about what may or may not have happened.

• She shouldn't have left work yet. I'll call her office.
• He shouldn't have boarded his plane yet. We can probably still get hold of him.
• They shouldn't have sent the report off for printing yet. There is still time to make changes.

We can also use 'should not have'  to regret past actions.

• I shouldn't have shouted at you. I apologise.
• We shouldn't have left the office so late. We should have anticipated this bad traffic.
• They shouldn't have sacked him. He was the most creative person on their team.

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Have Something Done

Have Something Done

 

If you 'have something done', you get somebody else to do something for you.

• I'm going to have my hair cut.
• She's having her house redecorated.
• I'm having a copy of the report sent to you

In informal English, we can replace 'have' by 'get'.

• We're getting a new telephone system installed.
• They will be getting the system repaired as quickly as they can.
• I got the bill sent direct to the company.

We can also use 'have/got something done' in situations where something bad has happened to people or their possessions. This is not something they wanted to happen.

• John had all his money stolen from his hotel bedroom.
• We had our car damaged by a falling tree.
• I got my nose broken playing rugby.

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Suppose 2

Suppose 2

 

'Supposed to be' can be used to mean 'it is said/believed'.

• The new James Bond movie is supposed to be excellent.
• He is supposed to have been rude to Mark but I don't believe it.
• It is supposed to be the best restaurant in town.

'Supposed to be' can also be used to talk about what is arranged, intended or expected. It is a bit like 'should'.

• I'm supposed to get to work by 8.
• John is supposed to turn off all the lights when he leaves.
• I'm supposed to pay my rent on the first of the month.
• It's not supposed to be here.

Often there is a suggestion that the action 'supposed to' happen does not actually happen.

• I'm supposed to be there before 8 but I'm often late.
• You were supposed to phone me.
• I'm supposed to be getting on a plane to Tokyo at this very minute.

'Not supposed to' often suggests that something is not allowed or prohibited.

• You're not supposed to smoke in here.
• I'm not supposed to tell you.
• We're not supposed to use the Internet for personal reasons at work.

'Suppose' can also be used as a conjunction to mean 'what if'. Notice that the verb which follows it is sometimes, but not always, put 'more in the past'.

• Suppose we take the earlier train to Munich? It would give us more time there.
• Suppose we took the plane instead? That would give us even more time.
• There's nobody in reception to let our visitors in. Suppose I sit there until somebody comes?
• I'm going to ask him for a pay increase. ~ Suppose he said 'no'? What would you do?

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Suppose 1

Suppose 1

 

We often use  'suppose' to mean 'imagine' or 'guess'

• I suppose you'll be meeting Danielle when you go to Paris?
• When you weren't there, I supposed you must have been held up.
• I suppose you two know each other?

Notice that 'suppose' is not normally used in the continuous form. We do not usually say 'I am supposing'.

• Now I suppose we'll have to do something else.
• We're waiting for John and I suppose he must be stuck in traffic.
• At this moment I suppose it doesn't matter.

Notice that for 'imagine not' or 'guess not' that we make 'suppose' negative, not the other verb.

• I don't suppose you know where Mary is?
• I don't suppose he'll do anything.
• I don't suppose you  have a Nokia phone charger here?

When responding to an idea with 'suppose', you can use 'so' to avoid repeating the idea that has already been expressed.

• Is Susan coming to this meeting? ~ I suppose so.

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Reported Speech 2

Reported Speech 2

 

We also use reported speech when we are saying what other people asked or wanted to know. We do not use do or question marks in indirect questions.

• "What time is it?" = He asked me what time it was.
• "Why hasn't he come? = She wondered why he hadn't come.
• "When will you be arriving?" = He wanted to know when we would be arriving.
• "What were you doing?" = They questioned him about what he had been doing.

We use the same structure when we report answers.

• "147 Oak Street." = I told him what my address was.
• "I didn't have time to do it." = She explained why she hadn't done it.
• "Look at this dress and bag." = She showed me what she had bought.
• "Put the paper here and press this button." = He demonstrated how the scanner worked.

Yes/no questions are reported with if or whether.

• Do you want a ride? = Mike asked me if I wanted a ride.
• Are you coming? = They wanted to know if I was coming.
• Will you be here later? = She asked me whether I would be here later.

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Reported Speech 1

Reported Speech 1

 

We use reported speech when we are saying what other people say, think or believe.

• He says he wants it.
• We think you are right.
• I believe he loves her.
• Yesterday you said you didn't like it but now you do!
• She told me he had asked her to marry him.
• I told you she was ill.
• We thought he was in Australia.

When we are reporting things in the present, future or present perfect we don't change the tense.

• He thinks he loves her.
• I'll tell her you are coming.
• He has said he'll do it.

When we tell people what someone has said in the past, we generally make the tense 'more in the past'.

• You look very nice. = I told him he looked very nice.
• He's working in Siberia now. = She told me he was working in Siberia now.
• Polly has bought a new car. = She said Polly had bought a new car.
• Jo can't come for the weekend. = She said Jo couldn't come for the weekend.
• Paul called and left a message. = He told me Paul had called and had left me a message.
• I'll give you a hand. = He said he would give me a hand.

However, when we are reporting something that was said in the past but is still true, it is not obligatory to make the tense 'more in the past'. The choice is up to the speaker. For example:

"The train doesn't stop here."

• He said the train doesn't stop here.
• He said the train didn't stop here.

"I like Sarah."

• She said she likes Sarah.
• She said she liked Sarah.

When we are reporting what was said, we sometimes have to change other words in the sentence.

We have to change the pronoun if we are reporting what someone else said. Compare these two sentences. In each case the person actually said "I don't want to go."

• I said I didn't want to go.
• Bill said he didn't want to go.

We have to change words referring to 'here and now' if we are reporting what was said in a different place or time.
Compare these two sentences. In each case the person actually said "I'll be there at ten tomorrow."

• (If it is later the same day) He said he would be there at ten tomorrow.
• (If it is the next day) He said he would be there at ten today.

Now compare these two sentences.

• (If we are in a different place) He said he would be there tomorrow at ten.
• (If we are in the place he is coming to) He said he would be here at ten tomorrow.

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