could have seized

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could have seized" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express a hypothetical situation in the past where an opportunity was available but not taken. Example: "If he had acted quickly, he could have seized the chance to invest in the company before it went public."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

Karpov had to turn down the pawn he could have seized with 35..

The New York Times

Trump could have seized on this fact and kept Flynn on.

The New Yorker

With the conflict now over, the government could have seized the moral high ground.

The Guardian - Opinion

Either team, then, could have seized the start of the second half but it was Rangers who did so.

Independent

"We don't think we've been negligent but we could have seized the problem earlier and come up with a solution.

The Guardian - Money

Mr. Felos said that technically, Governor Bush's administration could have seized custody of Ms. Schiavo while a higher state court considered its appeal of the order.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

Law enforcement officials say that ATF never actually "watched" those particular guns being bought and could never have seized them.

The Washington Post

Even they could not have seized the initiative without the American air campaign and the close support of American advisers.

The New York Times

Stopford had two days during which he had a ten-to-one advantage over the Turks and could easily have seized the highlands overlooking the bay.

The New Yorker

Weepu – an occasional goalkicker and no friend of the team dietician – could never have seized the helm had Carter still been fit.

Independent

With his Alpha project thwarted, could Madsen have seized on a new "project": a snuff movie starring Kim Wall, with the submarine as a film set, and himself as auteur?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could have seized" to express a missed opportunity or a potential action that was not taken in the past. It often implies a sense of regret or reflection on a different possible outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "could have seized" when you mean "could seize" or "could be seizing". The "could have + past participle" structure is specifically for hypothetical past events, not present or future possibilities. For example, avoid writing 'The enemy could have seized the city now' and consider alternatives like 'The enemy could seize the city now'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could have seized" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing a past hypothetical action or missed opportunity. This is consistent with Ludwig AI's analysis, indicating its correct usage in expressing possibilities that did not materialize.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "could have seized" is a modal verb construction used to express a missed opportunity or a past hypothetical action. As indicated by Ludwig AI, its grammatical status is correct, and it appears very commonly in English writing, particularly in news and media contexts. When writing with "could have seized", it is important to remember that this phrase exclusively refers to past possibilities, and misuse may lead to incorrect or awkward sentences. Alternatives such as "might have captured" or "should have grasped" offer nuanced variations suitable for different contexts. The phrase functions neutrally and is widely adopted across different registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might have captured

Suggests a possibility, but perhaps with less certainty of success than "seized".

should have grasped

Implies a sense of obligation or expectation that the opportunity should have been taken.

would have secured

Focuses on the outcome of successfully gaining possession or control.

could have taken

A more general alternative, implying simply taking an opportunity or advantage.

might have exploited

Emphasizes using a situation or resource for one's own advantage.

should have leveraged

Implies using something to its maximum potential.

would have dominated

Focuses on achieving a position of power or control.

might have controlled

Highlights the aspect of maintaining command over something.

should have pounced on

Suggests an immediate, decisive action to take advantage of an opportunity.

would have commandeered

Implies taking possession of something, often for military or public use.

FAQs

How do I use "could have seized" in a sentence?

Use "could have seized" to indicate a missed opportunity or potential action in the past. For example, "The company "could have seized" the market share if they had launched the product earlier."

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

In formal contexts, you might consider alternatives like "might have captured" or "should have grasped", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What can I say instead of "could have seized" to express regret?

To express regret, you could use "should have taken" or "ought to have grasped", which directly imply that a better decision could have been made.

What's the difference between "could have seized" and "could seize"?

"Could have seized" refers to a past hypothetical action, while "could seize" refers to a present or future possibility. For example, "They "could have seized" the territory last week (but they didn't)", versus "They "could seize" the territory next week".