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Joe2012 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Difference between these two sentences and use of grammar.

Sentence: "I think, they should not have supported the deal" or "I think, they should not have been supporting the deal."

My sentence: What is a difference between these two sentences? Are they saying the same thing? Whose grammar is more correct "should not have" one "should not have been" one?

Thanks and regards
  

Top answer

Both are grammatically correct, and they portray slightly different ways of looking at the same situation. If we hear that they have supported the deal, we imagine only the result. They gave their support for the deal, and that was it.

— CalifJim

  • Both are grammatically correct, and they portray slightly different ways of looking at the same situation.
  • If we hear that they have supported the deal, we imagine only the result.
  • They gave their support for the deal, and that was it.
  • They were finished with that.
  • They did what they did.
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4 Answers
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Both are grammatically correct, and they portray slightly different ways of looking at the same situation.

If we hear that they have supported the deal, we imagine only the result. They gave their support for the deal, and that was it. They were finished with that. They did what they did. Period. We don't even consider any of the details.

If we hear that they hav
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CalifJimIf we hear that they have supported the deal, we imagine only the result. They gave their support for the deal, and that was it. They were finished with that. They did what they did. Period. We don't even consider any of the details.

If we hear that they have been supporting the deal, we imagine them acting over a period of time, doing various activi
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Razer"should not have" here implies past possiblity?
No. It's more like disapproval of what has happened.

If you say "He should not have done that", you already know that he has done it. You are expressing your disapproval that he has done it. You're saying that you think he was wrong to do it, that it was not right that he did it. "should
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CalifJimIf you say "He should not have done that", you already know that he has done it. You are expressing your disapproval that he has done it. You're saying that you think he was wrong to do it, that it was not right that he did it. "should not have" implies that the deed is already done, and you don't like it.

Compare:

Gary should not have bought
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