How afraid I should've been

Question

I'm not sure how afraid I should've been of the teacher when I was in elementary school.

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Hello....

Isn't there any possibility that the sentence above can be understood to mean "I'm not sure how afraid I was of the teacher when I was in elementary school"?

Fivejedjon · Accepted Answer

No

CalifJim · Answer

pructusIsn't there any possibility that the sentence above can be understood to mean "I'm not sure how afraid I was of the teacher when I was in elementary school"?

I can't imagine it. I've tried to understand it that way, but without success. "should've been" just doesn't mean that to me.

CJ

Fivejedjon · Answer

The closest I can come is "I'm not sure how afraid I would have been of the teacher when I was in elementary school"

This is just about possible, though the double lack of certainty of 'I am not sure' and 'I would have been' makes it unlikely, in my opinion.

Grammarfreak · Answer

pructusI'm not sure how afraid I should've been of the teacher when I was in elementary school.

This is one of those "sentences" that I would put in the "problem" basket because the meaning is so convoluted confusing. No offense.
If I was telling a friend that I was afraid of my elementary teacher, I would say " you have no idea how afraid I was of my elementary school teacher".

If you were afraid of seeing him or even hearing your name being called for whatever reason, you were apparently intimidated by his presence. So the phrase: " I am not sure how afraid I was.." does not make sense because you are sure that you didn't want to see him. Another way of saying the same thing is: You have no clue how intimidated I was of my elementary school teacher, if that is the intended meaning.

Pructus · Answer

Thanks a lot, fivejedjon!!

I remember you answered the same question of mine before, with the same answer.

This time I changed from "bully" to "teacher".

I think I didn't put in exactly what I wanted to know.

I wanted to know if "should have PP" can be used after HOW, WHAT, WHERE, WHO, etc, and can mean the same as in "I am surprised that he should have done that",

Now, I figured out that the question sentence should have been, "I know how difficult it should have been with a person like me", or "I realized how afraid I should have been of the teacher when I was in elementary school."

And these sentences are correct.

With the 3 replies from English Gurus here, this is my conclusion.

Pructus · Answer

Thanks so much, CJ~II

I think I've got a clue on this question...

Pructus · Answer

I see.. I see...

Thanks a lot, grammarfreak!!

Your reply hits the logic, and I agree with you....

Fivejedjon · Answer

pructusI wanted to know if "should have PP" can be used after HOW, WHAT, WHERE, WHO, etc, and can mean the same as in "I am surprised that he should have done that",Now, I figured out that the question sentence should have been, "I know how difficult it should have been with a person like me", or "I realized how afraid I should have been of the teacher when I was in elementary school."

This is completely different from the original question you asked:

"I'm not sure how afraid I should've been of the teacher when I was in elementary school....."
Isn't there any possibility that the sentence above can be understood to mean "I'm not sure how afraid I was of the teacher when I was in elementary school"?

Try to decide exactly what sentence you wish to ask a question about, and exactly what your question is. I think it might avoid confusion here if you started a new thread with your question.

Pructus · Answer

Thanks again so much, fivejedjon!!

Actually as a non-native of English, I wasn't completely sure what my question was. This kind of things don't appear in the books.

Anyway I've got an answer for two different questions, thanks to you...

Grammarfreak · Answer

pructus"I know how difficult it should have been with a person like me", or

Almost, but no cigar!

From this sentence ( which is bit illogical with " should") , I sense that perhaps you are confused with the use of " should" and "would" in the perfect context.
Consider this scenario:
A and B in a conversation:
A: I have heard the new manager in Finance is really loud and temperamental .
B: I could imagine how worrisome and difficult it would have been for those working for that department ( You only imagine)
The underlined by nature has the suggested meaning of conditional. Would/ should/ must/ may are all possible but with different meanings.

I understand how nerve-racking and difficult it must have been for those working with someone like that ( I had this happened to me before)

Meaning-wise, the "would" sentence shows speculation and imagination. The "must " sentence shows experience and conviction.

How afraid I should've been

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