It Could Have Been Avoided

by Vocafy Verifisert

Engelsk (US) B2 12 spørsmål Grammatikk Work & money

Explore how incident reports describe missed chances, necessary actions, and possible causes in the past.

1. 1. Fyll inn det tomme feltet.

   The floor was wet, but nobody put up a warning sign. The fall could have ___ prevented.

   • being
   • been
   • be
   • was

   This is about a past event, and the fall receives the action.

   Show solution

   The floor was wet, but nobody put up a warning sign. The fall could have been prevented.

   A past passive after a modal uses “have been” plus a past participle. The focus is on the fall, not who prevented it.

2. 2. Fyll inn det tomme feltet.

   During the storm, the window may have been ___ by a falling branch.

   • broke
   • breaking
   • break
   • broken

   The verb form after “been” must be a past participle.

   Show solution

   During the storm, the window may have been broken by a falling branch.

   The past participle of “break” is “broken.” “Broke” is the simple past form.

3. 3. Velg riktig svar.

   What does the report say about the fire exit?

   The fire exit ought to have been kept clear, but boxes were left in front of it.

   • The staff failed to keep it clear when they were expected to.
   • The staff kept it clear, as they were expected to.
   • The writer is unsure whether the staff kept it clear.
   • Keeping it clear became necessary only after the incident.

   Compare the expected safety standard with what actually happened.

   Show solution

   • The staff failed to keep it clear when they were expected to.

   “Ought to have been” points to a past responsibility that was not met. A blocked exit can slow an evacuation.

4. 4. Velg riktig svar.

   What does the last sentence mean?

   The alarm was working. The staff had time to act, but they did nothing. The damage could have been limited.

   • The damage was definitely reduced.
   • There was no opportunity to reduce the damage.
   • There was an opportunity to reduce the damage, but it was not taken.
   • The report is uncertain whether the staff acted to reduce the damage.

   The staff had both a working alarm and time to respond.

   Show solution

   • There was an opportunity to reduce the damage, but it was not taken.

   Here, “could have been” describes an unused opportunity. It does not claim that the damage was actually reduced.

5. 5. Velg riktig svar.

   What judgment does the report make?

   After the leak, the report noted: “The password shouldn't have been shared in the group chat.”

   • Sharing the password was unavoidable.
   • Sharing the password was a mistake.
   • The password was never shared.
   • Sharing the password is recommended for next time.

   The writer is judging an action, not denying that it happened.

   Show solution

   • Sharing the password was a mistake.

   “Shouldn't have been shared” criticizes a past action. It is different from “wasn't shared,” which says the action did not happen.

6. 6. Fyll inn det tomme feltet.

   The writer draws a firm conclusion about a past action, not a rule or a possibility.

   The sealed box was in the storeroom yesterday, but it is on a desk today. It ___ moved since yesterday.

   • might have been
   • should have been
   • can't have been
   • must have been

   The change in location provides evidence that an action occurred.

   Show solution

   The sealed box was in the storeroom yesterday, but it is on a desk today. It must have been moved since yesterday.

   Here, “must have been” expresses a strong conclusion from evidence. It does not express an obligation.

7. 7. Velg riktig svar.

   How certain is the writer that the door was left open?

   The warehouse door may have been left open overnight. No one has confirmed this yet.

   • It is a possibility, not a confirmed fact.
   • It is a conclusion the writer considers certain.
   • It is something the writer believes was necessary.
   • It is something the writer says could not have happened.

   Notice that the writer is still waiting for confirmation.

   Show solution

   • It is a possibility, not a confirmed fact.

   “May have been” presents a possible past event. It does not mean that leaving the door open was allowed.

8. 8. Velg riktig svar.

   What does the report claim about the canceled inspection?

   The inspection was canceled, and the loose railing went unnoticed. If the inspection had gone ahead, the fault would have been discovered.

   • The inspection actually led to the discovery of the fault.
   • The inspection could not have revealed the fault.
   • The inspection would definitely have revealed the fault.
   • The inspection would have offered only a possible chance of finding the fault.

   The sentence presents a result under a condition that did not happen.

   Show solution

   • The inspection would definitely have revealed the fault.

   “Would have been” presents the result of an unreal past condition. “Could have been” would express only a possible result.

9. 9. Fyll inn det tomme feltet.

   The report describes a completed repair as unnecessary.

   A technician replaced the whole lock, although tightening one loose screw was enough. The lock ___ replaced.

   • should have been
   • needn't have been
   • couldn't have been
   • must have been

   An action can happen without being necessary.

   Show solution

   A technician replaced the whole lock, although tightening one loose screw was enough. The lock needn't have been replaced.

   “Needn't have been replaced” means the replacement happened but was unnecessary. A smaller repair would have been enough.

10. 10. Fyll inn det tomme feltet.

    The report rules out delivery as the time when the screen was first damaged.

    Photos show that the screen was already cracked before shipping. It ___ damaged for the first time during delivery.

    • must have been
    • might have been
    • should have been
    • can't have been

    Focus on when the damage first appeared.

    Show solution

    Photos show that the screen was already cracked before shipping. It can't have been damaged for the first time during delivery.

    “Can't have been” rejects a past possibility. “For the first time” matters: additional damage during delivery is still possible.

11. 11. Velg riktig svar.

    What is still uncertain?

    The warning email may not have been delivered. We are still checking the server records.

    • Whether the staff were allowed to deliver the email.
    • Whether the staff were required to deliver the email.
    • Whether the email reached its destination.
    • Whether the staff will be able to deliver the email tomorrow.

    The server records could confirm whether the email arrived.

    Show solution

    • Whether the email reached its destination.

    “May not have been delivered” means non-delivery is possible. It does not express a ban on delivering the email.

12. 12. Velg riktig svar.

    What does “should have been saved” express here?

    The backup system ran automatically last night. Under normal conditions, the files should have been saved, but we have not checked them yet.

    • An expected result that has not yet been confirmed.
    • Criticism of someone who failed to save the files.
    • Certainty that saving the files was impossible.
    • A suggestion to save the files in the future.

    The system ran, but nobody has verified its result.

    Show solution

    • An expected result that has not yet been confirmed.

    “Should have been” can express an expected past result, not just criticism. “We have not checked” leaves the actual result open.