1) Past infinitive VS infinitive, 2) Would have VS would

Question

Dear all,

I'm really confused right now. Can someone please tell me what's the semantic and pragmatic difference between these following sentences? And are they even grammatically correct?

1) In such a case, I would expect Eliott to say XYZ instead of ABC.

2) In such a case, I would expect Eliott to have said XYZ instead of ABC.

3) In such a case, I would have expected Eliott to say XYZ instead of ABC.

4) In such a case, I would have expected Eliott to have said XYZ instead of ABC.

Thank you so much.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

would expect is a tentative claim about the present. The corresponding firm claim is expect.
would have expected in a tentative claim about the past. The corresponding firm claim is expected.
to say connotes a temporal position after the expectation. Thus, it connotes the future of the present (will) or the future of the past (would) depending on the primary temporal axis shown in the main clause.
to have said connotes a temporal position before the expectation. Thus, it connotes the past of the present (has said) or the past of the past (had said) depending on the primary temporal axis shown in the main clause.

So the analogs, though not paraphrases, are

1) I expect he will say
2) I expect he has said
3) I expected he would say
4) I expected he had said

The more 'have's in the sentence, the less likely it is to be useful because such complex temporal relations occur less frequently in real life. Or when they do occur, a speaker is not likely to think them through with any great precision, and so is more likely to choose whichever comes to mind first, whether it is precise or not.

CJ

1) Past infinitive VS infinitive, 2) Would have VS would

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