A sentence

[Kerim]

Hi,
I don't understand this sentence. I have no idea its grammar.


"He could well have been"

[engee30]

well (adverb) is often used with the modal verbs may and could for emphasis and means 'very likely'.

[Kerim]

"Could well" is OK. But I don't understand rest of sentence now.

[engee30]

"Could well" is OK. But I don't understand rest of sentence now.

He could well have been... means He is very likely to have been.../I am almost certain that he was..., e.g.
He could well have been invited to the party. = I'm almost certain that he was invited to the party.

[Kerim]

Sorry. But I didn't understand. Please more simple example. Or tell me that: Which tense does it use?(have + been)

[engee30]

It's the present perfect simple tense that is used in that sentence.
could + have (been/gone/missed etc.) - used to talk about possibility in the past
Did it help you a bit?

[Kerim]

Yes I just remember.... Thanks.

[Kerim]

Ok, I wiil ask something more:

"I was to give it..."

Which tense?

[engee30]

Ok, I wiil ask something more:
"I was to give it..."
Which tense?

was to - as you may have guessed it's the past simple tense of the verb be + to. The whole phrase be to means more or less have to or be supposed to in the past, or that somebody was planned to do or something was planned to happen.
He is to give it... now or in the near future
He was to give it... then in the past

[Kerim]

Thanks.