6. 表示批評或責備

即表示過去本來有責任或義務應該做某事的，但實際上卻沒有做成，含有批評和責備的意味，通常譯為“本來應該”“本來可以”等。如：

You could have started a little earlier. 你本可早點動身的。

You could have helped me—why did you just sit and watch? 你本來可以幫我一把嘛——為什么你只是坐在那兒觀望呢?

7. 表示可能達到的極限

表示即使人們盡力而為去做某事，但還是未能做成，通常用于否定句。如：

I couldn’t have won, so I didn’t go in for the race. 反正我也贏不了，所以我就沒有參加賽跑。

I couldn’t have enjoyed myself more—it was a perfect day. 我玩得沒法再痛快了——這一天簡直痛快極了。

8. 表示驚訝

表示對所發生的情況感到驚奇，含有“竟然”的意味。如：

It seems inconceivable that the accident could have happened so quickly. 這一事故發生得這么快，簡直不可思議。

Well, I’m blowed! I should never have thought you could have done it. 真想不到! 我從未想到居然辦得到。

9. 用于虛擬語氣

在虛擬條件句中，當談論過去的情況時，其句型通常是：主句用“could / would / should /might +have+過去分詞”，從句用過去完成時。如：

If he had known the facts, he could have told us what to do. 如果他了解事實，他是可能告訴我們怎樣做的。 (www.hz123456.com)

If anybody had asked me, I could have told them what happened. 如果有誰問過我，我可以告訴他們發生了什么情況。

10. 用于口語慣用表達

如用于I could have sworn…，表示“我可以發誓”“我千真萬確”。如：

I could have sworn I’d paid that bill. 我可以發誓我付過賬。

I could have sworn I heard a knock at the door. 我千真萬確聽到了敲門聲。

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