Perfect infinitive

Question

Thanks a lot . 1 deserved to have received for me carries  ambiguity . Did he receive ? Or didn't ? I think ambiguity is built into this construction , isn't it ? 2. Would have failed to have come ? Shouldn't it be would have failed to come ? Come and fail happens simultaneously? Please elaborate . Thanks for your explanations

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Vladv 1 deserved to have received for me carries ambiguity . Did he receive ? Or didn't ? I think ambiguity is built into this construction , isn't it ? 2. Would have failed to have come ? Shouldn't it be would have failed to come ? Come and fail happens simultaneously?

I didn't analyze them. I just found them online and put them in the post as you requested.

1. This was said by "the recipient of the award", so obviously the other man didn't receive the award even though, according to the recipient, he should have received it (i.e., deserved to have received it).

In the general case, however, that is, without context, we would not know if he received or did not receive something that he deserved. That's built in to the meaning of "deserve", so both of the following make sense:

He deserved the prize that he got.
He deserved the prize that someone else got instead.

2. "would have failed to come" is certainly a better phrasing. Yes. As for simultaneity, I suppose what doesn't happen at all "doesn't happen" simultaneously with its failing to happen.

CJ

Perfect infinitive

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions