Do we also use "would have / would not have" to speak of a possibility in the past
- If what I hear is true, they might not have gone too far.
- If what I hear is true, they wouldn't have gone too far.
Hi:
Do they mean the thing or more or less the same thing? I think that they both mean that the speaker thinks it's possible that they haven't gone too far; there is a possibility that they still can be caught. Am I correct, please, about what I think of the two sentences?
Thank you!
Top answer
Where did you find these sentences? Please give some context. My friend just lost her dogs Pico and Whittier near the corner of Lincoln and Washington Someone left the gate open this morning.
- Where did you find these sentences?
- Please give some context.
- My friend just lost her dogs Pico and Whittier near the corner of Lincoln and Washington Someone left the gate open this morning.
- Pico is brown & he’s 5.
- Whittier is black.
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Where did you find these sentences? Please give some context.
My friend just lost her dogs Pico and Whittier near the corner of Lincoln and Washington Someone left the gate open this morning. Pico is brown & he’s 5. Whittier is black. They are father and son and are always together.
They’re scared of cars so we’re thinking they might not have gone too far.
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0Although each context has its own characteristics that should be taken into account, in the general case I hear "would (not) have" as more definite (certain) in the mind of the speaker than "might (not) have". This effect is more pronounced in the affirmative than in the negative.
1) Under a previous offer, victims would have been paid about $349,000.
2) Under a pre
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