Need Guidence

[nicks]

I'm bit confused in use of couldn't have & wouldn't have can any one put a light on it.

[Barb_D]

I'm bit confused in use of couldn't have & wouldn't have. Can any one put a shed some light on it?

Welcome to Using English.

Can and could are for ability.

It couldn't have been Peter you saw at the bank. He is in California.

If you want to write a few sentences in which you're not sure which word to use, post them here and we'll take a look.

[TheParser]

I'm bit confused in use of couldn't have & wouldn't have can any one put a light on it.

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Nicks,


(1) The moderator has already given you and me the answer.

(2) Here are two examples that I have made up:

Tom: Did Martha invite you to last week's party?

Sue: No.

Tom: Are you sorry that she did not invite you?

Sue: Not really.

Tom: Why not?

Sue: Well, if Martha had invited me, I couldn't have gone anyway.

Tom: Why not?

Sue: I was in the hospital.

*****

Sue: Well, if Martha had invited me, I wouldn't have gone anyway.

Tom:Why not?

Sue: I hate Martha. I never go to any of her parties.