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Contraposition Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
I would never have expected that...
What is the rhetorical effect produced by structures like 'I would never have expected that...'?
Top answer
Hi I'd say the phrase is not always rhetorical - you can just use it to mean that you didn't anticipate the outcome You can use it rhetorically, for example, to mean that you have changed your view of someone ... - Charlie gave the poor man a five pound note - I would never have expected that he would do that! [= to be honest, I've never thought of Charlie as a generous person] Dave
- Hi I'd say the phrase is not always rhetorical - you can just use it to mean that you didn't anticipate the outcome You can use it rhetorically, for example, to mean that you have changed your view of someone ...
- - Charlie gave the poor man a five pound note - I would never have expected that he would do that!
- [= to be honest, I've never thought of Charlie as a generous person] Dave
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3 Answers
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Hi
I'd say the phrase is not always rhetorical - you can just use it to mean that you didn't anticipate the outcome
You can use it rhetorically, for example, to mean that you have changed your view of someone ...
- Charlie gave the poor man a five pound note - I would never have expected that he would do that!
[= to be honest, I've never thought of Charlie as a
I'd say the phrase is not always rhetorical - you can just use it to mean that you didn't anticipate the outcome
You can use it rhetorically, for example, to mean that you have changed your view of someone ...
- Charlie gave the poor man a five pound note - I would never have expected that he would do that!
[= to be honest, I've never thought of Charlie as a
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Hi
Your first phrase 'I'd never have expected ...' says that I didn't expect it, but I turned out to be wrong
Your second sentence, I would say, leaves it open whether I will turn out to be wrong
- You shouldn't base our plans on James delivering the model on time
- I have not expected that he will
Dave
Your first phrase 'I'd never have expected ...' says that I didn't expect it, but I turned out to be wrong
Your second sentence, I would say, leaves it open whether I will turn out to be wrong
- You shouldn't base our plans on James delivering the model on time
- I have not expected that he will
Dave
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