B2–C1 · GFB · GFB007

Subject + could have been + past participle + means/context

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 + could have been + past participle + means/context

DE · GermanSubject + hätte(n) + participle + werden können

Anchor phrase

RU · Translation

Ошибку можно было предотвратить одной проверкой.

EN · English

The error could have been prevented with one check.

DE · German

Der Fehler hätte durch eine einzige Prüfung verhindert werden können.

Try variations2 · more examples

RU · Translation
Билеты можно было купить онлайн, но мы стояли в очереди.
EN · English
The tickets could have been booked online, but we queued.
DE · German
Die Fahrkarten hätten online gebucht werden können, aber wir standen an.
RU · Translation
Стул можно было починить, а не заменять.
EN · English
The chair could have been repaired instead of replaced.
DE · German
Der Stuhl hätte repariert werden können, statt ersetzt zu werden.

Pattern graph

Continue with nearby patterns

GFB003Subject + must have been + -ing + past contextGFB GFB008Subject + might have been + past participleGFB GFB005Subject + may have been + -ingGFB GFB009Subject + should have been + past participle + timeGFB

03Try variations2 · more examples

Continue with nearby patterns

Try variations2 · more examples