[Grammar] "Could not have chosen" vs. "could have not chosen"

[Mike MC]

What's the difference between "You could not have chosen that" and "You could have not chosen that" if any?

 

[GoesStation]

In the first, it was not possible for you to have chosen that. In the second, you chose that but you could have chosen something else.

I occasionally feel the need to make it clear that I didn't create English. This is one of those times; this is definitely not my fault.

 

[GoesStation]

It gets worse. You might think that this is an obscure nuance that most speakers would miss. Sadly for learners, it isn't; the critical difference between the two sentences is obvious to any native speaker.

 

[probus]

Or you could have used "could have chosen not," as for example you could have chosen not to do it. Michael Cohen could have chosen not to do what he did. Then he would not be spending three years in prison.