It could not happened vs It could not have happened

The correct phrase is "It could not have happened." The word "have" is necessary to form the past perfect tense in this context. The phrase "It could not happened" is wrong.

Explained by Camille
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: November 01, 2024 • 12247 views

It could not happened

This phrase is incorrect in English. The absence of "have" makes it grammatically wrong.

The correct phrase should be "it could not have happened." The addition of "have" is necessary to form the past perfect tense in this context.

Show examples from the web [+]

And, without paper, It could not have happened.
I'm sure I saw the second trade tower collapse an hour later, but I know it could not have happened.
It could have only happened postmortem.
That has not happened at all in space flying.
In the electricity sector virtually all Member States have introduced this arrangement; but this has not happened to gas.
We ascertained in February that this had not happened.
I am quite convinced that this has not happened yet.
To date this has not happened.
This, however, has just not happened.
The fact is, that has not happened.
Unfortunately, this has not happened.
This has not happened before now.
Okay, guys, It is not happened.
But now, they have not happened.
I hope that has not happened.
That has not happened until it was the camera.
I would like to ask why this has not happened.
It is intolerable and unbearable that in twenty years this has not happened.
Unfortunately, this has not happened.
Judging by the financial perspective being discussed today, this has not happened.

Alternatives:

it could not have occurred
it could not have taken place
it could not have transpired
it could not have happened that way
it could not have happened at all

It could not have happened

This phrase is correct in English. The addition of "have" is necessary to form the past perfect tense in this context.

This phrase is used to express that something was not possible to occur in the past. It is a correct and commonly used construction in English.

Examples:

It could not have happened without your help.
I'm sure it could not have happened that way.
It could not have happened at a better time.
She believed it could not have happened to her.
It could not have happened without a reason.

Show examples from the web [+]

And, without paper, It could not have happened.
I'm sure I saw the second trade tower collapse an hour later, but I know it could not have happened.
It couldn't have happened to a better bunch of bigots.
It could have happened to any one of us, Bailey.
Basically, I'm saying it couldn't have happened.
It could have happened while I was sleeping in my car.
It could have happened anytime, anyplace.
It could have happened to anybody who's also from Iceland.
But it could have happened in any city.
It couldn't have happened without Teddy Barnes.
I wish it could have happened differently.
Ann is nearsighted. It could have happened to anyone.
No, it couldn't have happened to anyone.
It could have happened to anyone, Mulder.
It could have happened suddenly, romantically.
It couldn't have happened in my presence
It could have happened any time.
I can't imagine how it could have happened.
It could have happened in, you know, Thailand.
And it couldn't have happened to a nicer bottom feeder.

Alternatives:

it could not have occurred
it could not have taken place
it could not have transpired
it could not have happened that way
it could not have happened at all

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It could not happened vs It could not have happened

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