Should have

Question

I would like to know the difference between "1" and "2".1. He should be home by now.2. He should have been home by now.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

I would like to know the difference between "1" and "2".
1. He should be home by now. Maybe he is home. Maybe he isn't. I don't know.
2. He should have been home by now. But I know he isn't home.

Clive

CalifJim · Answer

The difference is like the difference between the present and the past.
___

Suppose I am waiting for someone to return to his home after a trip because I want to call him to ask him if he enjoyed his trip.

"He should be home by now. I'll call now."
= I expect that he is already home, so if I call now he will be there to answer. (I don't know if he's home or not, but I expect that he is.)

________________

Suppose I think he has already returned, and I call him. Nobody answers.

"It's strange that he didn't answer. He should have been home by now."
= I am surprised that he didn't answer because I expected that he had already arrived home some time ago. (I know for certain that he is not home yet. I know that my expectations were not fulfilled.)

________
Compare:

Before you take a math test, a friend of yours says:
You're good at math. That test should be easy for you. (I expect it to be easy for you.)
____

After you take a math test, you say how difficult it was. Your friend is surprised and says:
I'm shocked! That test should have been easy for you. (I expected it to be easy for you (but I was wrong).)

CJ

Should have

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