modal perfect

[boboy234567]

I could have swum at the beach yesterday.


I call this modal perfect, but can it be called present perfect tense?


Thank you.

[Marius Hancu]

Not really, it's really in the past.

[Bridget]

Not really, it's really in the past.

Which part?

[i like]

I could swam at the beach yesterday

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'I could have swum at the beach yesterday' means 'I swam yesterday so far (up to now)'

[Bridget]

I could swam at the beach yesterday

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'I could have swum at the beach yesterday' means 'I swam yesterday so far (up to now)'


Sorry? ? ? ?

[i like]

Sorry? ? ? ?

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Sorry!

May I explain in another example?

'I am here' and 'I have been here'

'I am here' is the present tense only

'I have been here' means 'I was here and I am here'

Sorry if wrong topic

[Marius Hancu]

Wrong topic, create a new post.

[Rusty]

I could have swum at the beach yesterday.


I call this modal perfect, but can it be called present perfect tense?


Thank you.
This is called the modal perfect tense. Some grammarians say "aspect" rather than "tense." The present perfect is: I have swum at the beach. The present perfect is used when the action includes the present time. If you are still swimming, you can say, "I have swum at the beach all day (and I am still swimming). For a past action: "I swam at the beach yesterday."
To express a possibility in the past which did not happen, use the modal perfect. "I could have swum at the beach yesterday, but my friend couldn't go, so we changed plans." For more on modals, click here. (http://www.englishpage.com/modals/modalforms.html)

[Bridget]

But the "I could have" part is still present, Rusty.

[i like]

This is called the modal perfect tense. Some grammarians say "aspect" rather than "tense." The present perfect is: I have swum at the beach. The present perfect is used when the action includes the present time. If you are still swimming, you can say, "I have swum at the beach all day (and I am still swimming). For a past action: "I swam at the beach yesterday."
To express a possibility in the past which did not happen, use the modal perfect. "I could have swum at the beach yesterday, but my friend couldn't go, so we changed plans." For more on modals, click here. (http://www.englishpage.com/modals/modalforms.html)

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Thank Rusty
I understand 'modal perfect' but with my way
I shall try more

[Rusty]

But the "I could have" part is still present, Rusty.
If have is the main verb it is present tense.
Mary has a bad cough. She needs to see a doctor. She could have pneumonia.
Is that what you mean, Bridget?