could've
Was once possible
Could've is a contraction of "could have," used in past conditionals and speculations: I could've sworn I left my keys here, Things could've gone badly.
In speech, could've sounds identical to "could of," which leads to the common error of writing "could of" when "could have" is meant.
Contracted conditional auxiliary
- should'vePast obligation unfulfilled
- might'veContraction of possibility past
- must'veContraction indicating past necessity
- wouldn't'veWould not have, compressed
shouldn't've · hadn't · haven't · wasn't · weren't · didn't · doesn't · isn't
Contraction of possibility past
- would'veContracted conditional auxiliary
- maybeExpression of uncertainty
- possiblyWith some likelihood
- perhapsExpressing uncertainty
potentially · presumably · theoretically · conceivably · hypothetically · imagined · supposed · assumed
Past obligation unfulfilled
- would'veContracted conditional auxiliary
- missedFailed to reach
- hindsightRecognition after the fact
- wistfulnessTender sadness for absence
if only · remorse · second-guessing · what-if · opportunity · chance · differently · better
Contraction of possibility past
- alternativeAnother available choice
- otherwiseIn another manner
- optionAvailable course of action
- scenarioPostulated event sequence
outcome · different · instead · potentially · opportunity · chance · path · choice
would've
Contracted conditional auxiliary
- should'vePast obligation unfulfilled
- might'veContraction of possibility past
- must'veContraction indicating past necessity
wouldn't've · shouldn't've · hadn't · haven't · wasn't · weren't · didn't · doesn't · isn't · aren't
might've
Contraction of possibility past
perhaps · potentially · presumably · theoretically · conceivably · hypothetically · imagined · supposed · assumed · guessed
should've
Past obligation unfulfilled
wistfulness · if only · remorse · second-guessing · what-if · opportunity · chance · differently · better · mistake
might've
Contraction of possibility past
- alternativeAnother available choice
- otherwiseIn another manner
- optionAvailable course of action
scenario · outcome · different · instead · potentially · opportunity · chance · path · choice · route