Is there a difference between (could + infinitive) and (could + past participle)?
For ex. She could be lost.
She could have been lost.
Search from various English teachers...
Answers · 5
2
One means an imagined present, and the other means an imagined past.
2
Yes, they are different. The first is implying the possibility of a present condition ("could be") and the second is implying the possibility of a past condition ("could have been").
Example:
"Why does that woman look so confused? She could be lost." (notice that "does" is present tense)
VS
"Why did that woman look so confused? She could have been lost." (notice that "did" is past tense)
Hope that helps!
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