Example sentences of "could [not/n't] [adv] have [verb] [prep] " in BNC.
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| 1 | It seems to me that it is impossible to say that in carrying out that exercise he misdirected himself or came to a conclusion to which he could not reasonably have come in the exercise of his discretion . |
| 2 | Even in private conversation he would explain how his client could not possibly have broken into the house in the way of which he was accused , because he was far too drunk at the time , and so on . |
| 3 | The implication is that it is somehow self-evident that anything so wonderful as this could not possibly have evolved by natural selection . |
| 4 | But the word ‘ plane ’ could not possibly have conveyed to our eighteenth-century ancestors the meaning which it carries at the top of this page . |
| 5 | Though the news of her ‘ engagement ’ could not possibly have come from any other source than he of the ‘ My office — now ’ order . |
| 6 | She certainly did n't want his sympathy ; in all probability she could n't even have coped with it — but still , it would have been reassuring to detect some trace of humanity in the man . |
| 7 | No but it could n't really have agreed with him much could it really ? |
| 8 | But dreams I could n't possibly have had without his having really done those things . |
| 9 | He could n't possibly have known about Kim and the special projects . |
| 10 | He could n't possibly have come by the letter honestly or even accidentally . ’ |
| 11 | Well the solicitors could n't very have written to the , to the bank could they ? |