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Gobsmacked Posted 21 years ago
Vocabulary
I would have thought so...
Dear native speaker colleagues
What do native speakers think and how do they view themselves when they say 'I would have thought so'. I understand perfectly well how to use the three major types of if-clause, and that 'I would have thought so' belongs to the third conditional. Out of naivety, I said this once to my thesis supervisor in response to her question about the progress of my project. She was so furious on hearing this. I am sorry I don't remember the context in any further detail. I also asked a few friends who are native speakers, but none of them seemed to be able to explain this to my satisfaction(!). Many thanks.
What do native speakers think and how do they view themselves when they say 'I would have thought so'. I understand perfectly well how to use the three major types of if-clause, and that 'I would have thought so' belongs to the third conditional. Out of naivety, I said this once to my thesis supervisor in response to her question about the progress of my project. She was so furious on hearing this. I am sorry I don't remember the context in any further detail. I also asked a few friends who are native speakers, but none of them seemed to be able to explain this to my satisfaction(!). Many thanks.
Top answer
Tricky to explain without more context. It does imply a certain amount of doubt though...
- Tricky to explain without more context.
- It does imply a certain amount of doubt though...
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8 Answers
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Tricky to explain without more context.
It does imply a certain amount of doubt though...
It does imply a certain amount of doubt though...
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Dear friends,
I have wondered also.
May we perhaps say that it is a part of a third conditional? Let us imagine it:
I have wondered also.
May we perhaps say that it is a part of a third conditional? Let us imagine it:00
Hello Gobsmacked
Did she object to your using "I would have thought so"? Or your explanation?
MrP
Did she object to your using "I would have thought so"? Or your explanation?
MrP
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The context could have been that she asked about my progress, whether I understood her corrections and why I have not done this and that. In fact I wanted to say something like 'I agree with you' in response, but since I had heard 'I would have thought so' (just that) used so often, I thought it could mean the same as 'I agree with you'. But the effect was not as I assumed.
Supervisor: Do
Supervisor: Do
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Ok this is a tricky one to explain.
'I would have thought so' is not really a way of expressing simple agreement. It usually has a doubtful/sarcastic/critical element to it. I can imagine it being accompanied by a rolling of the eyes or a sigh afterwards. It can also express that you think something should have happened when it didn't.It can also express a bit of a dismissive 'don't car
'I would have thought so' is not really a way of expressing simple agreement. It usually has a doubtful/sarcastic/critical element to it. I can imagine it being accompanied by a rolling of the eyes or a sigh afterwards. It can also express that you think something should have happened when it didn't.It can also express a bit of a dismissive 'don't car
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boy u really know how to **** ur supervisor off i should adore you!
i should adore you!00
For your guidance, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English for Advanced Learners says as follows:
you would have thought (that)
(also you would think (that)) used to say that you https://www.ldoceonline.com/jp/dictionary/expect something t
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