My grandfather was about 25 years old.

Question

Dear all,Recently I happened to see a video of an English teacher. In this, he said the following idea can be expressed in the styles given below. But I can't agree with him. I feel that "will have been" can't be used in a past context. I am not that sure about the third sentence also.  I'd like to get your valuable opinion on this. 1) My grandfather was about 25 years old in 1947. (fact)2) My grandfather will have been about 25 years old in 1947. (estimate)3) My grandfather would have been about 25 years old in 1947. (tentative estimate)Thank you

Clive · Accepted Answer

He was right.

Clive

CalifJim · Answer

cat navy 425I feel that "will have been" can't be used in a past context.

Actually, it can be used that way. The "have been" part makes it past, but the "will" part is not used for the future here.

Here "will" plays the role of signaling that something is very probable, expected, or even certain.

If you'd like to keep the idea of the future in your mind as you interpret this, you can think of it like this:

My grandfather will have been about 25 years old in 1947.
~
If you check the records on my grandfather, you will find that he was about 25 years old in 1947.

Anyone who is assaulted on West Street will have been (was almost certainly) in a club of some sort.
Look! There's snow this morning. It will have been (must have been) very cold overnight.
France is a fantastic destination. Lots of people will have been (have probably been / were) there as a child so it becomes a first love for many.

CJ

My grandfather was about 25 years old.

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