"Could have" vs "could of"

Question

"Could have" vs "could of"

The correct phrase is 'could have.' 'Could of' is a common mistake due to the way it sounds when spoken, but it is grammatically incorrect. 'Could have' is the correct form to express possibility or past ability.

Last Updated: March 30, 2024

Use 'could have' to indicate a possibility or past ability. It is the correct grammatical form.

Examples:

I could have gone to the party if I had known about it.
She could have finished the project on time if she had worked harder.

Alternatives:

could've
could've
could've
could've
could've

Answer 1

Could have

Correct. 'Could have' is the correct form to express possibility or past ability.

Answer 2

could of

'Could of' is incorrect. It is a common mistake based on the way it sounds when spoken.

"Could have" vs "could of"

Could have

could of

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