Wednesday, November 30, 2016

modal verbs - How could it had happened vs How could it have happened


What is the difference between



How could it had happened



and



How could it have happened




It would be better if anyone can show its usage in some kind of situation.



Answer



John Lawler's comment provides a complete answer:



Could is a modal auxiliary and modal auxiliaries must be followed by an infinitive form of the next verb. Have is the next verb, and the infinitive form of have is have. Not had. That's all.



“How could it had happened” is therefore not a grammatical utterance.


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