They could have gotten vs They could had gotten

The correct phrase is 'they could have gotten.' 'Could have' is the correct modal construction to express possibility in the past, followed by the past participle 'gotten.' 'Could had' is incorrect because 'had' is not used as the past participle in this context.

Last updated: March 24, 2024 • 730 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"They could have gotten"

This phrase is used to express a possibility in the past, indicating that something was possible for them to obtain or achieve.

Examples:

They could have gotten the job if they had applied earlier.
If they had left earlier, they could have gotten to the airport on time.
They could have gotten better grades if they had studied more.
I wish they could have gotten along better with each other.
They could have gotten the promotion if they had shown more dedication.

Show examples from the web [+]

' And those who throw the stones,.'.' hide themselves behind glass...'.' They could have gotten your heart, but they did not have space...'
They could have gotten mine for cheap.
They could have gotten our names from the people they already took.
They could have gotten a feather lift for half off instead.
They could have gotten it all in.
They could have gotten your heart, but they did not have space.
He took her on the back of a motorbike, fled together, I figure they could have gotten killed.
I know, but I had my hand on the cabinet the whole time, so I'm pretty confident there's no way they could have gotten it.
If they could have gotten out, they would have by now.
We have no idea what heading they're on, but based on the max speed of the sub, you should be approaching the furthest they could have gotten.
But they could have gotten 1 billion, it doesn't matter because...
There's no way they could have gotten out!
They couldn't have gotten them out that fast.
They couldn't have gotten unanimous approval for you.
Look, they couldn't have gotten to all the cars in town.
They couldn't have gotten far with that roadblock.
They couldn't have gotten far.
They couldn't have gotten far.
They couldn't have gotten far. It's a 600-pound recliner.
They couldn't have gotten to them all.

This phrase is incorrect in English.

"They could had gotten"

Show examples from the web [+]

But a few years ago, your scientists noticed Pluto had gotten so small they couldn't even call it a "planet" anymore.
Someone had gotten under his skin.
Since the divorce, they had gotten to be best of friends.
I packed up everything I had gotten from ex-girlfriends.
Not after randy had gotten shot.
You can imagine if the press had gotten wind.
And then we found out that she and charles had gotten married.
One of them people had gotten used to working around.
She had gotten cast in a play.
Meanwhile, third period at Sue's school was set aside so kids could do whatever clubs they had gotten into.
I didn't care that I had gotten something that my brother wanted.
She and Emmy had gotten into a fight at the party.
I visited him once after his illness had gotten much worse.
If I had gotten to you first...
It had gotten inappropriate and disturbing.
I convinced myself a coyote had gotten in there.
If samhain had gotten loose in this town -
Randy knew that his list item had gotten more complicated.
I guess you guys had gotten pretty close.
We stayed in a mansion General Noriega had gotten my father.

Alternatives:

they could have gotten
they might have gotten
they would have gotten
they should have gotten
they must have gotten

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They could have gotten vs They could had gotten