Key Issue with “Could Of”

The phrase “could of” is actually a mistake arising from a mishearing of the phrase “could have.” In spoken English, “could have” often sounds like “could’ve,” where the “’ve” can easily be confused for “of.” However, “of” is a preposition and doesn’t belong in this phrase. The correct construction is “could have” or the contraction “could’ve.”

Breakdown of the Correct Usage

1. Could Have (could’ve)
   • “Could have” is used to describe something that was possible in the past but didn’t happen.
   • Example:
     • ✅ Correct: “I could have gone to the party, but I stayed home.”
     • ❌ Incorrect: “I could of gone to the party, but I stayed home.”
2. Why “Of” is Incorrect
   • “Of” is a preposition and doesn’t work grammatically in this context.
   • When we say “could of,” we’re confusing the contraction “could’ve” for the word “of,” but “of” does not serve any function in this phrase.

Example Comparisons

• Correct:
  • “She could have finished the project by now.”
  • “They could’ve joined us if they were free.”
• Incorrect:
  • “She could of finished the project by now.”
  • “They could of joined us if they were free.”

Pro Tip for Remembering

A good trick to avoid this mistake is to remember that “could,” “should,” and “would” are always followed by “have” (or “’ve” in contractions) when describing past possibilities or obligations. Think of it this way:

• Could + have
• Would + have
• Should + have

Practice Time!

Choose the correct option to complete each sentence:

1. They ___ gone to the concert, but it was sold out.
   • a) could of
   • b) could have
2. I ___ finished the task sooner, but I got distracted.
   • a) would of
   • b) would have
3. She ___ joined the class, but she missed the registration deadline.
   • a) should of
   • b) should have

Answers:

1. b) could have
2. b) would have
3. b) should have

Keep Practicing!

This is a common mistake, so don’t worry if it takes a little time to get it right. Just remember: could, would, and should are followed by “have” when talking about something that didn’t happen but could have been possible.