he could have even been vs he could even have been

Both phrases are correct and commonly used in English. The difference lies in the placement of the adverb 'even.' In the first phrase, 'even' comes after 'have,' while in the second phrase, 'even' comes before 'have.' The choice between the placement of this adverb depends on the emphasis you want to give to 'even' in the sentence.

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Last updated: March 17, 2025 • 5344 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"he could have even been"

This phrase is used when you want to emphasize the 'even' in the sentence. It implies surprise or emphasis on the fact being stated.

Examples:

He could have even been the one who stole the money.
She could have even been the winner of the competition.

Show examples from the web [+]

He said it could have been even better if Mr Balkenende had shown as much flexibility as the government of Italy - a reference to the Dutch candidate Ms KROES.
Could have even been the cause of his death.
I don't peep. I mean, you could have even been married in one of them...
I could have even notified the authorities.
This is regrettable, for this could have even forestalled the war.
EU subsidies have even been adjusted accordingly.
The situation could have even more tragic repercussions if humanitarian aid does not arrive as swiftly as possible.
This means that HLW obtained additional cash, which can be considered operating aid, which could have even resulted in measures involving excessive distortion of the market.
Look, I think that you could have even more problems if your patients don't receive their treatments, Doctor.
I could have even less idea that the subject, the content of this report would fit so seamlessly with my move to the European Court of Justice.
You have even been told to do the Tour de France, even though it is an American who will win that.
You know what you could have even more fun with?
I don't know of anybody that could have even come close to doing the job that he did, as... as the wacky doctor.
Had no idea I had that... thing inside of me for months, and, I mean, there's just no telling what I could have even done to her.
Michael, where do you think she could have even gone?
Some local residents have even been evacuated to Quahog Stadium for their own protection.
She may have even been one of the shooters.
I know. I shouldn't have even been here.
She shouldn't have even been in her car.
You shouldn't have even been in the ring.

Alternatives:

he could even have been
he even could have been
even he could have been
even he could even have been
he could have been even

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"he could even have been"

This phrase is used when you want to emphasize the 'even' in the sentence. It implies surprise or emphasis on the fact being stated.

Examples:

He could even have been the one who stole the money.
She could even have been the winner of the competition.

Show examples from the web [+]

I left before he could even think of inventing an excuse.
He could even help you carry the package.
The other kids were surprised he could even run that fast.
He could even be moving around and hiding in the places you've already looked.
It will be years before he could even lift a rock like this.
He could even find a girlfriend.
He could even spy for me.
And before he could even wipe his mouth...
He could even be there now.
Before he could even open h is mouth, this guy starts hitting him.
I mean, he called in "shots fired" before he could even see that it was Johnson.
He said he could even pressure men like that?
He could even look at the Single Programming Documents in order to do this.
He could even be a butler.
They're in babyclothes for so long before he could even fit into that stuff.
He could even save our marriage.
He could even enjoy the spectacle of 90 lorries laden with gravel churning up the country lanes where parents walk with their children.
He had such a knowledge of the dark side... he could even keep the ones he cared about... from dying.
What Ecevit said to us was that there were several Kurdish dialects and that he could even imagine Kurdish being used as an official language in Turkey under certain conditions.
You could even have some kind of hemorrhage at some point.

Alternatives:

he could have even been
he even could have been
even he could have been
even he could even have been
he could have been even

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he could have even been vs he could even have been

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