It is ten o’clock. They could have arrived now.
It is ten o’clock. They can have arrived.
What is the meaning of the above sentences?
What meaning do "could have" and "can have" give to sentences using the present tense?
modal-verbssubjunctivestense
It is ten o’clock. They could have arrived now.
It is ten o’clock. They can have arrived.
What is the meaning of the above sentences?
What meaning do "could have" and "can have" give to sentences using the present tense?
Best Answer
This really is a matter of idiom—what people actually do say—not grammatical or logical meaning.
In strict logic, all of these amount to the same thing, that it is possible that they are right now at their expected destination:
Could or might suggest somewhat more uncertainty than can or may. Can and could address their command of the physical ability or resources, while may and might address the probability.
But in fact, the past form in this case will usually point to an implied unreal or highly unlikely contingency; and people are unlikely to use can or could in these circumstances except to draw a contrast between possibility and expectation:
So what you probably want is