0
Viceidol Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

Can "may/willshall have done" be used in the past?

0I know that I could use "could/might/would/should have done" in the past tense, like: 02br
02br
00He knew that she01font00 02font01b01font00couldn't02font00 have stolen02b00 it.02br
02br
00He knew that she01b00 01font00might not02font00 have stolen02b00 it. 02br
02br
00He knew that she01b01font00 wouldn't02font00 00have stolen02b00 it. 02br
02br
00He knew that she01b01font00 shouldn't02font00 have stolen02b00 it. (All the four sentences refer to "past probability")02br
02br
00But I wonder if we can really use "01b00may02b00/01b00will02b00/01b00shall02b00 have done" in the past tense? Like:02br
02br
00He knew that she01b00 01font00may not02font00 have stolen02b00 it. (It means "He knew that she probably hadn't stolen it.")02br
02br
00He knew that she01b00 01font00will not02font00 have stolen02b00 it. (It means "He knew that it was very likely that she hadn't stolen it.")02br
02br
00He knew that she01b00 01font00shall not02font00 have stolen02b00 it. (Same as the above)02br
02br
00May I ask if all the three sentences are all suitable? Please give me your opinion, thank you. 0-
  

Top answer

02br 00Your last one sounds very odd-- I don't think you can use 'shall' there except in the 1st person-- but the others sound fine. 0-

— Mister Micawber

  • 02br 00Your last one sounds very odd-- I don't think you can use 'shall' there except in the 1st person-- but the others sound fine.
  • 0-
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

7 Answers
0
0 .02br
00Your last one sounds very odd-- I don't think you can use 'shall' there except in the 1st person-- but the others sound fine. The condition remains the same: she hasn't stolen it yet, up to this moment.0-
0
0
0 ---02br
01b00Will have + past participle02b00 can express certainty or confidence about the past:02br
02br
01i00Dear Sir, You 01b00will02b00 recently 01b00have received02b00 a form ...02br
02br
00We can't go and see them now--they01b00'll have gone02b0
0
0
0>He knew that she01b00 01font00may not02font00 have stolen02b00 it. (It means "He knew that she probably hadn't stolen it.")02br
00I'd say it means: He knew 01b00it wasn't possible02b00 that he had stolen it. 0-
0
0
0 The01b00 shall have02b00 isn't used today in AmE except in legal contexts with a mandating/deontic/obligation meaning. 02br
00The enclosed is historical/old usage, with the meaning of 01b00obligation02b00 imposed by 01b00resolve02b00: "it is our moral obligation to ensure that they haven't died in vain": 02br
0
0
1blockquote
01cite10Mister Micawber12cite10.12br
10Your last one sounds very odd-- I don't think you can use 'shall' there except in the 1st person12br
12blockquote
10Then how about "He knew that01b01font00 I02font00 01font00shall not0
0
0
0 01blockquote
01cite10Viceidol12cite10All the four sentences refer to "past probability"12blockquote
10 It's difficult to understand exactly what you mean by this comment. And even after deciphering it to some extent, it doesn't seem true. Far from relating to past probability, 01i00couldn't have stolen it02i
0
0
0Thank you for yor opinions, Jim and everyone..0-
0

Related Questions