Usage of could; could have

[Edison_Chen_e_c]

What's the difference between the two?#

1.The trip was canclled last week. Paul couldn't have gone anyway because he was ill.
2.The trip was canclled last week. Paul couldn't go anyway because he was ill.
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Paul couldn't have gone to school anyway because he was ill.
(1)what does it mean?
(2)Paul did go to school actually or did not go?
(3)What is the mood of the speaker?

Thanks in advance.

(I hate this kind of construction.)

[Alan]

Hi,

The difference seems to be that 'He couldn't go because he was ill' is a statement of fact and answers the question: Why wasn't he able to go?

The other sentence: 'He couldn't have gone because he wasl ill' hints at the condtional idea - even if he had wanted to.

The inclusion of 'anyway' suggests 'regardless of what happened' and I would think sits more happily with the latter sentence.

In both sentences Paul didn't go.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Passive Voice

[Edison_Chen_e_c]

So when I see a sentence 'Somebody couldn't have ~', it always hints "even if somebody ~, he couldn't have~" ?