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Why "could of" is a language blunder you shouldn't make

Reviewed and edited by Anwar Kareem 05/10/2024, 18:20
English.me team member

What kind of error is it?

Could of or could have [verb]. What's correct?

Grammatical and orthographic error

Why do people make this mistake?

People often make this error due to mishearing or misinterpreting the contraction "could've," which combines "could" and "have." When spoken quickly, "could've" sounds very similar to "could of," leading to the incorrect spelling.

What is correct?

"Could have" or its contraction "could've" is the correct form to use, as "have" is the auxiliary verb needed to form the present perfect tense.

Examples of correct usage

  • I could have gone to the party.
  • She could've been there earlier.
  • They could have helped if we asked.

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