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Vishaljain23231 Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Who would have thought that, when he published his observations in a groundbreaking series of reports in The Lancet, in 1867, his antiseptic method would have spread as rapidly as anesthesia.

I know that we use would have as in the following sentence...By the end of today I would have done it.
That is if we see future from the past, we use would have. How is the use of would have justified here? please explain.
  

Top answer

vishaljain23231 if we see future from the past, we use would have. Or just 'would'. vishaljain23231 How is the use of would have justified here?

— CalifJim

  • vishaljain23231 if we see future from the past, we use would have.
  • Or just 'would'.
  • vishaljain23231 How is the use of would have justified here?
  • It isn't exactly justified.
  • It was the author's choice to match the tense with the opening 'would have thought'.
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4 Answers
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vishaljain23231if we see future from the past, we use would have.
Or just 'would'.
vishaljain23231How is the use of would have justified here?
It isn't exactly justified. It was the author's choice to match the tense with the opening 'would have thought'.
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The short form, omitting t
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But, doesn't it indicate that the method spread rapidly in the years following 1867, and that it is not spreading as of now because it is already widespread?
I mean that this process of spreading is already over. If I use just 'would', then it will mean that the method is spreading even now.
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vishaljain23231But, doesn't it indicate that the method spread rapidly in the years following 1867, and that it is not spreading as of now because it is already widespread?
No.
vishaljain23231I mean that this process of spreading is already over. If I use just 'would', then it will mean that the method is spreading even now.
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OK. If I try to see this thing in my native language, it seems so, so I asked.
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