0
Winmanlai Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Auxiliaries + perfect infinitives
Auxiliaries + perfect infinitives
Use the perfect infinitive of the verbs in brackets with a suitable auxiliary verb:
Example:
1. I've never seen a London policeman.~
You (see) one! You've been in London a week already!
1. I've never seen a London policeman.~
You must have seen one! You've been in London a week already!
Question:
2. We (start) yesterday (this was the plan); but the flight was cancelled because of the fog, so we're still here, as you see.
My answer:
2. We could have started yesterday (this was the plan); but the flight was cancelled because of the fog, so we're still here, as you see.
But the correct answer is were to have started. Could someone explain it to me?
Thanks in advance.
Use the perfect infinitive of the verbs in brackets with a suitable auxiliary verb:
Example:
1. I've never seen a London policeman.~
You (see) one! You've been in London a week already!
1. I've never seen a London policeman.~
You must have seen one! You've been in London a week already!
Question:
2. We (start) yesterday (this was the plan); but the flight was cancelled because of the fog, so we're still here, as you see.
My answer:
2. We could have started yesterday (this was the plan); but the flight was cancelled because of the fog, so we're still here, as you see.
But the correct answer is were to have started. Could someone explain it to me?
Thanks in advance.
Top answer
but then neither is 'must have seen'. #1 should read 'You had/have to have seen one ', I suppose.
- but then neither is 'must have seen'.
- #1 should read 'You had/have to have seen one ', I suppose.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
2 Answers
0
Well, 'could have started' is not a perfect infinitive...but then neither is 'must have seen'. #1 should read 'You had/have to have seen one', I suppose.
00
Related Questions