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Example sentences for "could have"

  • This indeed was, as I said, an excursion of his spirits, which were yet agitated by the sense of his loss, and was farther than he could have authority to go.

  • I could have made a book; but I have a family, and - perhaps I could not make the book after all.

  • It seemed as smooth as glass, and yet I knew the surf was roaring all along the reef, and indeed, if I had listened, I could have heard it - and saw the white sweep of it outside Matautu.

  • I look like a cad, if I do in the man's absence what I could have done in a more manly manner in his presence.

  • Now, imagine if I have been homesick for Barrahead and Island Glass, and Kirkwall, and Cape Wrath, and the Wells of the Pentland Firth; I could have wept.

  • All at once, I found there was a second skull, with a bullet-hole I could have stuck my two thumbs in - say anybody else's one thumb.

  • It could have been as revolting to him as is cannibalism to us.

  • Had there been meat upon them he could have understood, for thus alone might one keep his meat from Dango, the hyena, and the other robbers of the jungle.

  • Though no one knew of the humiliation but Dunsford, and he had certainly forgotten, Philip felt that he could have no peace till he had wiped it out.

  • He did not know how he could have endured it.

  • But when an action is performed it is clear that all the forces of the universe from all eternity conspired to cause it, and nothing I could do could have prevented it.

  • When he discovered that Macalister was a stockbroker he was eager for tips; and Macalister, with his grave smile, told him what fortunes he could have made if he had bought certain stock at certain times.

  • To make it the more extraordinary, there was no side road at this point down which he could have gone.

  • The boy's chamber was carefully examined, and yielded nothing save the absolute conviction that it was only through the window that he could have escaped.

  • That he could have gone on after receiving such an injury said much for the vitality and courage of the man.

  • I don't think I could have done it in cold blood.

  • If I could have done so, the torment would have ceased.

  • That he could have chosen to dupe her in so ready a manner seemed a cruel thing.

  • One of her order of mind would have been content to be cast away upon a desert island with a bundle of money, and only the long strain of starvation would have taught her that in some cases it could have no value.

  • A truly deep-dyed villain could have hornswaggled him as readily as he could have flattered a pretty shop-girl.

  • If we could have such a home as that," said Mrs. Hale sadly, "how delightful it would be.

  • The little vanity, if he could have perceived it there, would have touched him as a pleasant thing.

  • Do you imagine that I could have such an idea in my head?

  • It was plain that he could have no serious views, no true attachment, by fixing himself in a situation which he must know she would never stoop to.

  • The sort of man who knew his business better than you or I could have told it him!

  • If he could have helped it, he and his child would have been farther apart perhaps than they were.

  • For, Hester, his spirit lacked the strength that could have borne up, as thine has, beneath a burden like thy scarlet letter.

  • She was now of an age to run lightly along by her mother's side, and, constantly in motion from morn till sunset, could have accomplished a much longer journey than that before her.

  • After that, I was just as much at home in that century as I could have been in any other; and as for preference, I wouldn't have traded it for the twentieth.

  • We could have blown up the Tower of London with these charges.

  • I could have got a title easily enough, and that would have raised me a large step in everybody's eyes; even in the king's, the giver of it.

  • At one time," she replied, "I could have run up that hill a good deal better than you.

  • He felt if only they had been of a different colour he could have borne it better.

  • All the way home in the train she had said to herself: "If only it could have been me!

  • It was as good a stimulant as he could have, but he refused and went to bed.

  • I had never heard of a collieshangie in my days, but with the racket all about us in the city, I could have no doubt as to the man's meaning.

  • She bowed to me as a lady bows to her equal, and passed on (I could have sworn) with a heightened colour.

  • Had I been to go down that instant, I believe I could have carried it well.

  • Do as I would, I could not keep the rope as I could have wished it; and he ended at last by falling on me from a height of several yards, so that we both rolled together on the ground.

  • I was all soul, and (wild as it may appear) felt as if I could have dissolved in the soft balmy gale that kissed my cheek, or have glided below the horizon on the glowing, descending beams.

  • As a medial man I could have no opinion on such a point unless I knew Mr. Tyke, and even then I should require to know the cases in which he was applied.

  • It was "rather hard lines" that while he was smarting under this disappointment he should be treated as if he could have helped it.

  • Mr. Vincy said, that if he could have his way, he would not put disagreeable fellows anywhere.

  • I have been able to say it myself without being forced to it, I could have told it to the universe, to the whole world,--it was all one to me.

  • I could have lied, it is true, have deceived you all, and remained Monsieur Fauchelevent.


  • The above list will hopefully provide you with a few useful examples demonstrating the appropriate usage of "could have" in a variety of sentences. We hope that you will now be able to make sentences using this group of words.


    Some common collocations, pairs and triplets of words:
    could command; could desire; could devise; could discern; could draw; could feel; could find; could gather; could hold; could mean; could never; could not have done; could not help saying; could not refrain from; could offer; could rely; could ride; could scarce; could scarcely; could stand; could stop; could tell; either real; finding herself; set down; shall fight