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as much as i could vs as much as i could have

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'As much as I could' is used to indicate the maximum effort or extent someone has put into doing something in the past. 'As much as I could have' is used to express a hypothetical situation about the effort or extent someone could have put into something in the past.

Last updated: March 19, 2024 • 2030 views

as much as i could

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate the maximum effort or extent someone has put into doing something in the past.

This phrase is used to show the limit of one's ability or effort in the past. It implies that the person did their best within their capabilities.

Examples:

  • I helped him as much as I could during his difficult time.
  • She studied for the exam as much as she could, but it was still challenging.
  • He tried to fix the car as much as he could, but it was beyond repair.
  • Oct 15, 2015 ... ... as you can do, you ​manage to do it, but with ​great ​difficulty: I ​felt so ​ill this ​morning, it was as much as I could do to get out of ​bed.
  • Nov 24, 2014 ... Since our last lesson, I practiced as much as I could, but since my tuba was held up in customs until today, that wasn't very much.
  • In my writing, as much as I could, I tried to find the good, and praise it. Alex Haley. Biography. Author Profession: Novelist. Nationality: American. Born: August 11 ...
  • Nov 12, 2015 ... "I did as much as I could." Harris was laid to rest at the Chattanooga National Cemetery the day before Veterans Day. Robinson is charged with ...

as much as i could have

This phrase is correct and is used to express a hypothetical situation about the effort or extent someone could have put into something in the past.

This phrase is used to talk about what someone was capable of doing in the past but did not actually do. It refers to a missed opportunity or unrealized potential.

Examples:

  • I could have helped him as much as I could have, but I was busy.
  • She could have studied for the exam as much as she could have, but she chose not to.
  • He could have fixed the car as much as he could have, but he didn't have the right tools.
  • but I was sorry I had done so afterwards, for I do not think his Majesty admired the lines as much as I could have wished. There is no occasion for me to dwell ...
  • ... all this while I was seized with a fit of trembling, as much as I could have been if I had been in the same condition, as to be sure the day before I expected to be ...
  • I had definitely experienced some consequences, but not as much [as I could have]. I'm really grateful that people loved me and walked me through those ...
  • By the time I got to that step I was a little tired of the whole ordeal and didn't smash the acorns maybe as much as I could have... By far, the step which was the ...

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