We don't see John together with Beth any more

[Dukul12345]

1. Hafiz = We don't see John together with Beth any more.

Ador = Maybe she could have dumped him.

2. Rina = John was acquitted of the charge.

Tyson =Maybe she would have dumped him.

If I change those sentences' modal verb would those be correct? Like If I use would have instead of could have or could have instead of would have. I can't differentiate between these two modal verbs I mean when I need to use could have + past participle and would have + past participle?

 

[Dukul12345]

Re: Modal verbs

The combination of 'maybe' and the modal in Ador's utterance is not very natural. I'd go for one of these:

Maybe she's dumped him.
She may/might/could have dumped him

Suppose I have omitted the word may. Can I then interchangeably use could have and would have?

 

[Dukul12345]

Re: Modal verbs

No. There is no significant different here between could have dumped and might have dumped, but would have dumped does not work.

But why? Please explain

 

[emsr2d2]

Please note that I have changed your thread title. Titles should include some/all of the words/phrases you are asking us about. Titles like "modal verbs" are pretty useless. Titles should be unique and relevant to the thread.

 

[jutfrank]

Re: Modal verbs

But why? Please explain

Simply because we don't use would in that way to make speculations about real past events.

Note that your exchange number 2, about John being acquitted, makes no sense at all. Are you trying to use a conditional sentence there?

If John hadn't been acquitted, she would have dumped him.

We use would here because it's not a speculation about what actually happened in the past but about what could have happened.