How do you say this in French, please?: "she could have had"

Cheryl N.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

How do you say this in French, please?: "she could have had"

could; should; would ! .. these compound constructions are a little difficult. What are the rules, if any, please?
Asked 8 years ago
gemma g.B1Kwiziq community memberCorrect answer
I think it's "elle aurait pu avoir", this is the conditional past. It's tricky to form this tense when you're using pouvoir, devoir etc.

Here are some of my own examples, seeing these might help you understand the pattern:

J'aurais du(circumflex on the u) manger = I should have eaten
Il aurait pu voir = He could have seen
Ils auront vu = They would have seen

(sorry if this isn't correct)
Cheryl N.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Thanks Gemma.
Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
In the second example "They would have seen" I would write "Ils auraient vu" If we write "Ils auront vu" we are expressing "They will have seen" I agree with Gemma that the grammar is indeed tricky.
etienne w.A2Kwiziq community member
elle peut a eu
Jeanne W.B2Kwiziq community member
Elle aurait pu avoir

How do you say this in French, please?: "she could have had"

could; should; would ! .. these compound constructions are a little difficult. What are the rules, if any, please?

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