SPECULATION
EGP #1238 | C2 | MODALITY / could Can use 'couldn?t have' + '-ed' to speculate about the past. Lexical range: N/A
她不可能忘了预约——我今天早上还给她发了提醒消息。
She ___couldn't ___have ___forgotten the appointment — I texted her the reminder just this morning.
他们不可能提前知道考题——试卷是昨晚才印出来的。
They ___couldn't ___have ___known the exam questions in advance — the papers were only printed last night.
走廊里那个声音不可能是老板——他这周人都在日内瓦开会。
That ___couldn't ___have ___been the boss's voice in the hallway — he's at a conference in Geneva all week.
邻居不可能听到我们在吵架——她双耳失聪好些年了。
The neighbour ___couldn't ___have ___heard us arguing — she's been deaf in both ears for years.
那封邮件不可能是昨天到的——公司服务器一整天都瘫痪着。
The email ___couldn't ___have ___arrived yesterday — the office server was down all day.