could have begun

USAGE SUMMARY

"could have begun" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to indicate that something was possible in the past, but did not actually happen. Example: "I could have begun my homework earlier, but I got caught up in a TV show and lost track of time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

But they could have begun the reform process.

The New York Times

Perhaps only an SPD chancellor could have begun reform in Germany.

The Economist

They're "for," not "to," her, though more than several could have begun as apologies.

The New York Times - Books

But there is another view worth considering: it could have begun in the trees.

The Guardian

None of them could have begun to do what Thatcher did.

The Guardian

Mao prevented China's population from attaining the prosperity that it could have begun to enjoy far earlier.

Independent

We have seen it coming for months (or should have done), and could have begun to make preparations.

Independent

It could have begun the task of finding alternatives to hydrocarbons, and the world could have done the same thing.

The Guardian

Mechanics at United Airlines approved a new contract yesterday, averting a strike that could have begun as early as tomorrow.

The New York Times

Mr. Maxey said enrollment could have begun earlier if the state had done more planning and preparation.

The New York Times

I could have begun paying the loan, but whichever collection agency owned it had lost track of me years ago.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could have begun" to express a missed opportunity or a potential action that did not materialize in the past. For instance, "They could have begun the project earlier if they had secured funding."

Common error

Avoid using "could of begun" instead of "could have begun". "Could of" is a misspelling and grammatically incorrect. Always use the auxiliary verb "have" after "could".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could have begun" functions as a modal perfect construction, expressing a past possibility or potential that did not actually occur. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples showing how it's used to discuss hypothetical scenarios and missed opportunities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Encyclopedias

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "could have begun" is a modal perfect phrase used to express a past possibility that didn't happen. Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical standing. Its usage is common across various contexts, particularly in news and media, and it maintains a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. Common mistakes include using "could of" instead of "could have". Related phrases like "might have started" or "may have initiated" offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality or emphasis. When considering using "could have begun", remember that it expresses a potential action that never materialized.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could have initiated

Implies capability or permission to begin, which was not acted upon.

might have started

Emphasizes the possibility or likelihood of the action commencing.

may have initiated

Suggests a formal or deliberate commencement of something.

would have commenced

Indicates a conditional or hypothetical start in the past.

may have set in motion

Focuses on the action of starting a process or chain of events.

might have triggered

Suggests the potential beginning as a cause or catalyst.

could have undertaken

Emphasizes the possibility of starting a task or project.

may have embarked on

Focuses on the beginning of a journey or significant endeavor.

would have launched

Implies a formal or public beginning, often of a project or campaign.

could have activated

Suggests the potential commencement of a process or system.

FAQs

How can I use "could have begun" in a sentence?

Use "could have begun" to indicate a possibility that existed in the past but didn't occur. For example, "The meeting "could have begun" earlier if everyone had arrived on time".

What's a more formal alternative to "could have begun"?

A more formal alternative could be "might have commenced" or "may have initiated", depending on the context. These alternatives emphasize a more deliberate or official start.

What's the difference between "could have begun" and "could have started"?

While similar, "could have begun" often implies a more formal or structured commencement. "Could have started" is generally more informal and applicable to a broader range of situations.

Is it correct to say "could of begun" instead of "could have begun"?

No, "could of begun" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "could have begun". "Could've" is a contraction of "could have", but "could of" is always an error.