Of course vs Yes you could've

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Of course

Top 1,000 (very common)

Yes you could've

Top 2,000 (common)

Most common: Of course

	Of course	Yes you could've
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //əv kɔːs// 🇺🇸 //əv kɔrs//	🇬🇧 //jɛs jʊ ˈkʊd əv// 🇺🇸 //jɛs jʊ ˈkʊd əv//
Meaning	Definitely, it's obvious.	A phrase used to agree or affirm someone's suggestion or idea.
Example	Are you joining us for dinner tonight? Of course!	If you wanted to join us at the concert, yes you could've!
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)
Collocations	of course not, of course yes, of course you can, of course it is	Yes you could've gone, Yes you could've done, Yes you could've reached, Yes you could've said, Yes you could've faced
Common mistakes	Using it in formal writing where a different expression is needed., Confusing it with other affirmations like 'certainly' or 'definitely'.	Omitting 'you' and saying just 'Yes, could've', Using it in formal contexts where more clarity is needed, Confusing it with 'Yes, you can' which has a different connotation
Usage notes	Used in informal and formal situations to affirm something obvious. Avoid in highly formal writing.	Used in conversational contexts to agree with a proposal; may come off as dismissive if not followed by additional support.

See it in real clips

Of course.

Agatha Christies Poirot › S1 E1

You know her, of course.

And, of course, I paid my respect to Bubba himself.

Of course.

Agatha Christies Poirot › S1 E1

You know her, of course.

Of course

I couldn't. Yes, you could've. If you'd listened to me.

Yes you could've

Frequently asked questions: Of course vs Yes you could've

What's the difference between Of course and Yes you could've?

Of course: Definitely, it's obvious. Yes you could've: A phrase used to agree or affirm someone's suggestion or idea.

Which is more common: Of course and Yes you could've?

Of course is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Of course: Are you joining us for dinner tonight? Of course! Yes you could've: If you wanted to join us at the concert, yes you could've!

Can I use Of course and Yes you could've interchangeably?

Not always. Of course and Yes you could've are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.