Question

could have done是什么意思？

Answer 1

could have done 表示“未曾实现的……”

一、could have done 表示未曾实现的选择

could have done 表示过去本来可以有机会选择做某事，但实际上没有那样做，通常译为“本来可以”。如：

You needn’t have typed it twice. You could have used a carbon. 你没必要打两遍的，你当时本可以用复写纸打。

You needn’t have walked up; you could have taken the lift. 你没必要走着上去，你本来可以乘电梯的。

I could have lent you the money. Why didn’t you ask me? 我本来可以借这笔钱给你的。你为什么不向我提出?

You needn’t have cooked it. We could have eaten it raw. 你其实可以不煮熟(它)，我们 (本来)可以生吃。

二、could have done 表示未曾实现的想法

could have done 表示过去本来有做某事的打算或意图，但实际上没有实现，通常译为“本来可以”。如：

I could have lent you the money. Why didn’t you ask me? 我本来可以借这笔钱给你的。你为什么不向我提出？

I could have given you some hints, but I suppose you thought yourself too grand. 我本可以给你点提示的，但是我认为你太自负了。

三、could have done 表示未实现的可能性

could have done 表示过去本来可能发生情况，而实际上没有发生，通常译为“本来可以”“本来可能”等。如：

She could have been seriously injured. 她本来可能伤得很重的。

It’s difficult enough, but it could have been worse. 这事情够困难的了，本来可能会更糟呢。

有时也可根据语境译为“好在没有”“差点”，尤其是当谈论的是“不好”的情况时。如：

She felt miserable. She could have cried. 她感到很痛苦，她差点哭了。

Why did you throw the bottle out of the window? Somebody could have been hurt. 你为什么把瓶子扔出窗外呢？好在没有砸伤人。

四、could have done 表示未曾实现的能力

could have done 可以表示过去本来有能力可以做某事的，但实际上没有那样去做，通常译为“本来可以”“本来能力”等。如：

The worst of it is that I could have prevented the accident. 最糟糕的是我本来可以防止这次事故的。

I could have passed my examination easily but I made too many stupid mistakes. 我本可以轻易通过考试，但我犯了太多不该犯的错误。

有时用于反语。如：

You’ve broken my pen—thanks for nothing, I could have done that for myself. 你把我的笔给弄坏了——你得了吧，就那我自己也会弄。