Can have/Could have

We can use 'could have' to talk about something somebody was capable of doing but
didn't do.
 I could have gone to Oxford University but I preferred Harvard.
 She could have married him but she didn't want to.
 They could have bought a house here 20 years ago but chose not to.

Often, there is a sense of criticism.

 You could have phoned me to let me know.
 They could have helped me instead of just sitting there.
 I could have done more to help you. Sorry.

We can use 'couldn't have' to talk about something we were not capable of doing.
 I couldn't have managed without you.
 I couldn't have got the job. He was always going to appoint his nephew.
 I couldn't have enjoyed myself more. Thank you for a lovely day.

We can use 'could have' to speculate about what has happened. (We can also use 'may
have' or 'might have' in these situations.)
 She could have taken the earlier train.
 Simon could have told her.
 They could have overheard what we said.

We can also use 'can have' to speculate about what has happened - but only in
questions and negative sentences and with words such as 'hardly', 'never' and 'only'.
 Can she have forgotten about our meeting?
 He can't have seen us.
 They can hardly have thought that I was not interested in the job.

We can also use 'could have' to speculate about something that didn't happen.
 You could have broken your neck, jumping out the window like that.
 He could have hurt somebody, throwing a bottle out of the window like that.
 I could have done well in my exam if I'd worked harder.

You can also use 'could have' to talk about possible present situations that have not
happened.
 He could have been Prime Minister now but he got involved in a big financial
scandal.
 They could have been the market leaders now if they had taken his advice.
 I could have been earning a lot as an accountant but the work was just too
boring.