Could you please explain the meaning of “would have” here?
The singer’s voice was strong and sweet. Sansa thought he sounded better than he ever had before, his voice richer somehow, full of pain and fear and longing. She did not understand why the gods would have given such a voice to such a wicked man. (A Feast for Crows)
Hi. Could you please explain the meaning of “would have” here? The sentence seems OK without it (i.e. why the gods gave such a ...).
Thank you.
Top answer
In the combination 'why ... would' there is a subtle shade of meaning that borders on saying that the speaker has a certain opinion about the facts, namely, that there is no good reason why the facts should be as they are. Hence, in the case at hand, the meaning is roughly like this: She did not understand why the gods gave such a voice to such a wicked man because she didn't think it made any sense for the gods to do such an unreasonable thing.
- In the combination 'why ...
- would' there is a subtle shade of meaning that borders on saying that the speaker has a certain opinion about the facts, namely, that there is no good reason why the facts should be as they are.
- Hence, in the case at hand, the meaning is roughly like this: She did not understand why the gods gave such a voice to such a wicked man because she didn't think it made any sense for the gods to do such an unreasonable thing.
- She saw no justice in it.
- CJ
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In the combination 'why ... would' there is a subtle shade of meaning that borders on saying that the speaker has a certain opinion about the facts, namely, that there is no good reason why the facts should be as they are.
Hence, in the case at hand, the meaning is roughly like this:
She did not understand why the gods gave such a voice to such a wicked
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