can have started

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can have started" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate a possibility that an action began at some point in the past and may still be relevant or ongoing. Example: "The project can have started without our knowledge, so we need to investigate further."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

None anywhere can have started on such a wave of goodwill and optimism.

The Guardian - Sport

For instance, the disease can have started a while ago, but the score is not yet sensitive enough to detect its progression (e.g., CDR-SOB score below 0.5).

CPT: Pharmacometrics and Systems Pharmacology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It is a new institution that has had a luxury that no existing college can have: starting from scratch and dreaming of what an undergraduate education should be in the 21st century.

Huffington Post

A new life can rarely have started in a less promising place and time.

The Guardian - Arts

As awful as they often are at home Poyet's players can rarely have started a game as badly as this.

The Guardian - Sport

Not many scientists can claim to have started in research as early as Cosma.

Science Magazine

If a single word can be said to have started a war, ivoirité started Ivory Coast's.

The New Yorker

Modern growth theory can be said to have started with Joseph A. Schumpeter.

Encyclopedia Britannica

We can only say we have started an investigation and we require the reports from all [four] federations".

The Guardian - Sport

Even if DesJarlais' relationship can be deemed to have started after her treatment, it would still be deemed highly problematic.

Huffington Post

All we can say is, we should have started earlier".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "can have started" to suggest a possibility or uncertainty about an action that began in the past and might still be relevant.

Common error

Avoid using "can have started" when you need to express certainty about a past event. In such cases, use "has started" or "started" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can have started" functions as an auxiliary verb phrase. It combines the modal verb "can" with the perfect infinitive "have started" to express possibility or speculation regarding a past action. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "can have started" is a useful tool for expressing possibility or speculation about past actions, as determined by Ludwig AI. It finds common ground across news, science, and general writing contexts. Grammatically correct and generally neutrally toned, this phrase allows writers to introduce an element of uncertainty or conjecture regarding when something may have begun. While alternatives like "may have started" or "could have started" offer similar shades of meaning, understanding the precise context will guide you toward the best choice. Ludwig's analysis confirms its status as a valid and frequently used construction in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

may have started

Replaces "can" with "may", indicating a possibility or uncertainty about the start.

could have started

Substitutes "can" with "could", suggesting a potential or hypothetical beginning.

might have started

Uses "might" instead of "can", implying a lower probability of having started.

may well have started

Adds "well" to "may have started", strengthening the possibility.

it's possible it started

Rephrases using "it's possible", changing the sentence structure.

it is conceivable that it started

Replaces "can" with "it is conceivable that", indicating a more formal tone.

it's not impossible it started

Expresses the idea by negating impossibility.

it's likely it started

Indicates a higher probability using "likely".

it's plausible it started

Indicates that starting is believable or realistic.

there's a chance it started

Expresses the possibility using "there's a chance".

FAQs

What does "can have started" mean?

The phrase "can have started" indicates a possibility or speculation that something began in the past. It suggests that the action might have already commenced but is not stated with certainty.

When is it appropriate to use "can have started"?

Use "can have started" when you want to express a possibility or make a tentative suggestion about a past event. For example, "The meeting "can have started" without us, so we should hurry."

What are some alternatives to "can have started"?

You can use alternatives like "may have started", "could have started", or "might have started" to express similar meanings.

Is there a difference between "can have started" and "has started"?

Yes, "has started" indicates certainty that something has begun, while ""can have started"" expresses a possibility or speculation.