could/could have

[mehdihas]

Hi there,
What is the difference between using could and could have in the following sentence?
A: Who sent those flowers?
B: I'm not sure. It could be/could have been your mother.

Thanks

[5jj]

It is just a slightly different way of looking it it:

It could be - I think there is a possibility that your mother is the person who sent them.
It could have been - I think there is a possibility that your mother sent them.

I think 'could have been' is more likely.

[mehdihas]

Hi fivejedjon,
I couldn't get the difference yet!!! Would you explain a bit more?
Thanks

[5jj]

It could be - I think there is a possibility that your mother is the person who sent them. The focus is on the person, your mother, in the present
It could have been - I think there is a possibility that your mother sent them. The focus is on the giving in the past.