could have closed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could have closed" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express a possibility or hypothetical situation in the past regarding closing something. Example: "If I had known about the meeting, I could have closed the deal before the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

We could have closed the [striker] down.

Independent

"The Fire Department could have closed us down".

The New Yorker

"We could have closed this building down sometime ago".

The New York Times

But the Yankees could have closed out the Mariners here.

The New York Times - Sports

I could have closed my eyes so easily.

The Guardian

With more warning, they could have closed Krajbanka before so much money drained out.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

I wish I could've closed out with no bogeys but I am happy to get the job done.

BBC

Thomas Inskeep from Stylus Magazine complimented the finale of the tour saying, "There's not a better way the Confessions Tour could've closed".

Wikipedia

Internationally, though, the idea that the president's cousin could have close ties with drug trafficking paramilitary death squads "doesn't smell good," he said.

The Guardian

By next year, she could have close ties to two top state officials; her former husband, State Senator Eric T. Schneiderman, a Manhattan Democrat, is a leading contender to succeed Mr. Cuomo as attorney general, and has already been endorsed by 1199.

The New York Times

By this time next year, the company, which has its headquarter in Norwalk, Connecticut could have close to 700 employees as part of its expansion plans.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could have closed" to express missed opportunities or unrealized possibilities in the past. Ensure the context clearly indicates what action "could have" been taken.

Common error

Avoid using "could have closed" to describe current or future possibilities. This phrase strictly refers to past unrealized actions. Use "could close" for present or future scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could have closed" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing a past possibility or hypothetical situation that did not occur. It indicates that an action was possible but was not ultimately carried out. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase is both correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "could have closed" is a modal verb phrase used to express past possibilities that were not realized. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is most frequently found in News & Media contexts, with neutral register. When writing, it’s essential to use the phrase to describe a past situation to avoid tense errors. Alternatives such as "might have shut" or "should have secured" can provide similar meanings in different contexts. The phrase is quite common, used to express regret, missed opportunity, or speculation about past events. As the examples show, this phrase commonly appears in high-quality sources like The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might have shut

Suggests an alternative possibility of closing something.

could have finalized

Highlights the possibility of finalizing something.

should have secured

Indicates a missed opportunity to secure something.

might have concluded

Suggests a possible alternative outcome of concluding.

would have sealed

Emphasizes the potential of sealing a deal or outcome.

were able to conclude

Highlights the ability to finalize or end something.

were capable of closing

Emphasizes the capability to close an operation.

had the opportunity to finalize

Focuses on the existence of a chance to complete a process.

had the power to shut

Focuses on the authority to close something down.

were in a position to end

Indicates being in a favorable state to terminate something.

FAQs

How is "could have closed" used in a sentence?

"Could have closed" indicates a past possibility that did not occur. For example, "They "could have closed" the deal if they had offered a better price."

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

In formal contexts, consider using "might have concluded" or "were in a position to finalize" as alternatives to "could have closed". These phrases convey a similar meaning with a more professional tone.

Which is correct, "could have closed" or "could of closed"?

"Could have closed" is the correct form. "Could of closed" is a common misspelling arising from the similar pronunciation of "have" and "of". Always use "could have" followed by the past participle.

How does the meaning of "could have closed" differ from "should have closed"?

"Could have closed" suggests a possibility that wasn't realized, while "should have closed" implies an obligation or recommendation that was not followed. For example, "They "could have closed" the shop early", but "they "should have closed" the shop early because of the storm".