I want to have eaten apples

Question

1. I want to have eaten apples.2. I want to have been loved. Do these sentences make sense?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Michelle Cha

I want to have eaten apples.

2. I want to have been loved.

Do these sentences make sense?

They make sense in that they have understandable meanings, but they are somewhat odd sentences because of the use of perfect tense.

eg. Before I die, I want to (have eaten apples)(have been loved).

More natural sentence are 'Before I die, I want to (eat apples)(be loved).'

Why did you use perfect tense? Are you trying to learn perfect tense?

CalifJim · Answer

Michelle Cha1. I want to have eaten apples.2. I want to have been loved. Do these sentences make sense?

They make sense, but they express some unusual thoughts.

1. I want to be in a situation in which I have already eaten apples.
.... I want to be in a situation in which my eating apples is in the past.
2. I want to be in a situation in which I can say that someone has loved me in the past.

These kinds of expressions (I want to have ..., I hope to have ...) are more commonly used with a "by (the time)" clause which serves as a future reference point at or before which you want to finish doing something.

I want to have finished my homework by 9 o'clock so I can watch some TV before I go to bed.
I want to have seen the Eiffel Tower by the time I am 50 years old.
I want to have set the table by the time my dinner guests arrive.

However, these are not much different from the corresponding forms without "have". I want to finish; I want to see; I want to set. The "have" simply emphasizes wanting something finished (by a certain time).

CJ

I want to have eaten apples

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