Why It’s “Could Have,” Not “Could Of”

“Could have” is the correct grammatical form because “could” is a modal verb that requires a verb in the present perfect form, such as “have.” So, we say:

• “could have” (indicating a possibility in the past).

“Could of” is a common mistake, often because “could’ve” (the contraction of “could have”) sounds like “could of” when spoken quickly. However, “could of” is incorrect in written English.

Examples

1. Correct: “I could have gone to the concert, but I stayed home.”
2. Incorrect: “I could of gone to the concert, but I stayed home.”

Quick Tip to Remember:

Always remember: If you’re talking about something you “could’ve” done in the past, it’s always “could have” or the contraction “could’ve.”

Practice Exercise

Choose the correct form:

1. I ______ (could have/could of) finished my work earlier.
2. They ______ (could have/could of) tried calling you.

Answers:

1. I could have finished my work earlier.
2. They could have tried calling you.