Could have been two

[ostap77]

Would it be acceptable to use "could have been" twice in a row as in "He could have been smoking. So he could have been high." ? Or to avoid a reptition it mign sound better to say "He could have been smoking. So he might have been hign."?

[Raymott]

Would it be acceptable to use "could have been" twice in a row as in "He could have been smoking. So he could have been high." ? Or to avoid a reptition it mign sound better to say "He could have been smoking. So he might have been hign."?

You can use it twice in a row if it's what you need to say. Most writers would avoid the repetition.

[ostap77]

You can use it twice in a row if it's what you need to say. Most writers would avoid the repetition.

Yeah. That's what I need to say. I just wasn't sure if I could use it twice in a row. Most aprreciative for your help.

[Raymott]

Yeah. That's what I need to say. I just wasn't sure if I could use it twice in a row. Most aprreciative for your help.

The context is important though. If a judge asked me, "Could he have been smoking; could he have been high?", I would answer (if it were the thruth), "Yes, your honour, he could have been smoking, and he could have been high."