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AIBU?

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Original poster

Could have versus could of

164 replies

Trendyname · 09/09/2025 12:40

Could have done.✔️
could of done. Incorrect

Explanation:

Could = ability in past. Being able to in a time which is past now.

Could have = something that was possible in past.

have is followed by past participle

Past participle is what we write after have in sentences. Eg done, eaten, bought.

could have + finished
could have + gone
could have + written
could have + done

Easier way to remember is:

The ‘have done’ after could is similar to when we use ‘have done’ in a sentence like
‘I have done all my tasks for today’
or ‘ I have finished all my tasks for today’

You ‘could have picked’ some vegetables on your way home.

We never say ‘ I of done my tasks for today’ or ‘ I of finished my work’

‘Would have’ has a similar structure in the sentence, the meaning is different. I think we all know the meaning but some of us use structure wrongly.

Would have ✔️

Would of incorrect

Maybe I am AIBU to post here, but I see so many people use it incorrectly here. English is my second language, so if you find any mistakes, please go ahead and correct.

OP posts:
KpopDemon · 09/09/2025 12:47

It’s because the contraction of “could’ve have” to “could’ve” sounds like “could have”.

Same with might’ve and would’ve but less common so it hasn’t become such a major grammar error.

Purpleharlow · 09/09/2025 12:47

Were you just on the chalking on pavements thread?

Drives me mad.

See also the use of the word ‘women’ when the poster means ‘woman’. Examples being, ‘I just spoke to a women at the bus stop’ or ‘There was a women shouting at the neighbours’ 😡😡

HelpMeGetThrough · 09/09/2025 12:47

It’s wasted OP.

I’ve just had an email from a Director with “should of” and “could of” in it.

It didn’t have a “pacifically” but it wouldn’t have surprised me.

LeaderBee · 09/09/2025 12:45

"Maybe I am AIBU to post here, but I see so many people use it incorrectly here. English is my second language, so if you find any mistakes, please go ahead and correct."

Maybe I am Am I being Unreasonable...
I'm just being pedantic...

Reminds me of when we had a "PPE Equipment" room over covid

A personal Protective equipment equipment room

chunkybear · 09/09/2025 12:45

It’s because of phonics in the practical sense, could’ve when you say it out loud sounds like could have - and people then put pen to paper and it’s wrong. Many people correct this as part of their schooling but not everyone.

WafflingDreamer · 09/09/2025 12:45

It's just from the use of the contractions could've would've should've when most English people say them they sound like could of would of should of

Balloonhearts · 09/09/2025 12:45

They're the same ones that claimed to have breaked hard. No you didn't. You braked. Its brakes, not breaks. You take a break or you break something. If you're talking about a car, it's brakes.

Thepeopleversuswork · 09/09/2025 12:44

What's the AIBU though?

You know you're correct and they are wrong.

Anyone writing "could of" has had a substandard education or has a neurodiversity or learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

What do you get out of hitting them over the head with a grammar tract and why should they listen to you telling them how much cleverer you are?

PennywisePoundFoolish · 09/09/2025 12:44

I remember being corrected on that when I was in Yr11. I'd used of instead of have repeatedly in a history essay and my teacher corrected every one. I genuinely had no idea. I'm average intelligence, not dyslexic.

Zodiacrobat · 09/09/2025 12:43

Yes the mistake has risen, I believe, from people hearing “could’ve” the spoken contraction of could have as “could of” and then writing it incorrectly.

I fear we are fighting a losing battle however as “could of” seems ubiquitous now.

Jackiepumpkinhead · 09/09/2025 12:43

YANBU - but are wasting your time, they don’t care!

FuzzyPuffling · 09/09/2025 12:42

That's an extremely long and complicated explanation of "never use "could of"".

ACatNamedRobin · 09/09/2025 12:41

But of course I 100% agree with you... it's hopeless though.

ACatNamedRobin · 09/09/2025 12:41

Sadly the people who use "could of" won't be able to grasp any of that...