Metkagram
EN RU

B2–C1 · GFB · GFB004

Subject + cannot have been + -ing; evidence

Explanation

A reusable frame from “Modal scope and past inference”. Compare how English and German express modal scope and past inference. Practise reusable constructions with Russian translations.

Structure

EN · EnglishSubject + cannot have been + -ing; evidence
DE · GermanSubject + kann/können nicht + ... + participle + haben/sein

Anchor phrase

RU · Translation

Не может быть, чтобы она слушала: она пропустила вопрос.

EN · English

She can't have been listening; she missed the question.

DE · German

Sie kann nicht zugehört haben; sie hat die Frage verpasst.

Try variations2 · more examples

  1. RU · Translation

    Не может быть, чтобы он ехал за рулём: я видел его в поезде.

    EN · English

    He can't have been driving; I saw him on the train.

    DE · German

    Er kann nicht Auto gefahren sein; ich habe ihn im Zug gesehen.

  2. RU · Translation

    Не может быть, чтобы они спали: музыка была слишком громкой.

    EN · English

    They can't have been sleeping; the music was too loud.

    DE · German

    Sie können nicht geschlafen haben; die Musik war zu laut.

Pattern graph

Continue with nearby patterns

GFB005Subject + may have been + -ingGFBGFB010Subject + must have been + past participle; evidenceGFBGFB003Subject + must have been + -ing + past contextGFBGFB006Subject + should have been + -ing + instead of + -ingGFB