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OttoJ Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Should have known
Are my sentences both correct?:
-All of us should know this structure already, because examples are found in Romeo and Juliet, a required reading from Prof Albert Einstein's course. (=it is obligatory that we know something, already being used to emphasize the completeness of the action, but not changing the tense)
-All of us should have known this structure already, because examples are found in Romeo and Juliet, a required reading from Prof Albert Einstein's course. (=it is obligatory that we have known something; so should have known)
Almost no difference in meaning. Applicable to the same situation. Do you agree?
-All of us should know this structure already, because examples are found in Romeo and Juliet, a required reading from Prof Albert Einstein's course. (=it is obligatory that we know something, already being used to emphasize the completeness of the action, but not changing the tense)
-All of us should have known this structure already, because examples are found in Romeo and Juliet, a required reading from Prof Albert Einstein's course. (=it is obligatory that we have known something; so should have known)
Almost no difference in meaning. Applicable to the same situation. Do you agree?
Top answer
I find both of them acceptable, but I prefer the first. However, "obligatory" does not seem quite the right explanation of "should" in this case. com/dictionary/american/should ).
- I find both of them acceptable, but I prefer the first.
- However, "obligatory" does not seem quite the right explanation of "should" in this case.
- com/dictionary/american/should ).
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1 Answers
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I find both of them acceptable, but I prefer the first.
However, "obligatory" does not seem quite the right explanation of "should" in this case. It's more like "used when you have strong reasons for believing or expecting something" (http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/america
However, "obligatory" does not seem quite the right explanation of "should" in this case. It's more like "used when you have strong reasons for believing or expecting something" (http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/america
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