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Wangqh2696122 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Should have done has the following four meanings, right?
Should have done has four meanings, right?
1. regret or criticism: You should have come here yesterday, but why didn’t you?
2. surprise: It’s strange that she should have married a fool.
3. deduction of present events: Half an hour has passed; he should have arrived home by now.
4. deduction of the past: “Was he late for the meeting yesterday?” “I am not sure, but he is a punctual man, so I guess he should have attended it on time.”
1. regret or criticism: You should have come here yesterday, but why didn’t you?
2. surprise: It’s strange that she should have married a fool.
3. deduction of present events: Half an hour has passed; he should have arrived home by now.
4. deduction of the past: “Was he late for the meeting yesterday?” “I am not sure, but he is a punctual man, so I guess he should have attended it on time.”
Top answer
I doubt that it's limited to just those 4, wangqh, but I've never seen a list. #3 looks like a past event to me: 'She should arrive home now' would be present.
- I doubt that it's limited to just those 4, wangqh, but I've never seen a list.
- #3 looks like a past event to me: 'She should arrive home now' would be present.
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2 Answers
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I doubt that it's limited to just those 4, wangqh, but I've never seen a list. #3 looks like a past event to me: 'She should arrive home now' would be present.
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wangqh2696122Should have done has four meanings, right?When you consider all the various shades of meaning that are possible, there are probably more than four. On the other hand, that fourth one you mentioned doesn't ring true to me. That last clause ... so I guess he should have attended it on time does not strike me as a deduction. A past d
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