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In a grammar book, I read

We use could (not can) plus the perfect when we speculate about the possibility of an earlier event.

An example from the same book:

With better communication, the battle could have been avoided and the lives of more than 2000 people could have been saved.

I was wondering what happens if "could have been avoided" is replaced with "could be avoided" and "could have been saved" is replaced with "could be saved". I guess that such changes don't make the sentence ungrammatical. But how is its meaning affected?

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    In this case, the sentences would switch to talking about the future.
    – Esther
    Apr 28, 2022 at 16:55
  • @Esther, Here is an example from the book which uses could and according to the book is talking about possibility in the past: "The old house could be quite cold, even in summer."
    – apadana
    Apr 28, 2022 at 17:02
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    that sentence is not speculative at all
    – Esther
    Apr 28, 2022 at 17:03

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