0
Qingqing Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
Something about the structure"mustn't have done"
0 I think there is no such structure "mustn't have done", is there? 02 br
02 br
00 But I have found a sentence in a big dictionary "Mr Green mustn't have received my letter, otherwise he would have replied before now". 02 br
02 br
00 Does the structure exist? It should be "Mr Green can't/couldn't have received my letter...", right? 0-
02 br
00 But I have found a sentence in a big dictionary "Mr Green mustn't have received my letter, otherwise he would have replied before now". 02 br
02 br
00 Does the structure exist? It should be "Mr Green can't/couldn't have received my letter...", right? 0-
Top answer
12 br 12 br 10 Does the structure exist? 12 br 12 br 12 blockquote 10 This sturcture is correct. We use this type of structure in situations where you are expecting something to have happened.
- 12 br 12 br 10 Does the structure exist?
- 12 br 12 br 12 blockquote 10 This sturcture is correct.
- We use this type of structure in situations where you are expecting something to have happened.
- 02 br 02 br 00 Ex 1: I mailed out the package to my sister a week ago.
- She 01 font 00 must have received 02 font 00 it by now 02 br 02 br 00 Ex 2: You started this project a week ago.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
3 Answers
0
0 01 blockquote
01 cite 10 Qingqing 12 cite 10 I think there is no such structure "mustn't have done", is there? 12 br
12 br
10 But I have found a sentence in a big dictionary "Mr Green mustn't have received my letter, otherwise he would have replied before now". 12 br
12 br
10 Does the structure exist? It should be "Mr Green c
00
0 01 blockquote
01 cite 10 Qingqing 12 cite 10 I think there is no such structure "mustn't have done", is there? 12 br
12 br
10 But I have found a sentence in a big dictionary "Mr Green mustn't have received my letter, otherwise he would have replied before now". 12 br
12 br
10 Does the structure exist? It should be "Mr Green c
00
0 It's true that we often use "can't" or "couldn't" in that pattern and with that meaning, but "mustn't" is really correct as an alternate. 02 br
02 br
00 With "can't" we are saying that it is not possible that he has received the letter. 02 br
00 With "mustn't" we are saying that it has to be so that he has not received the letter. 02 br
02 br
00
02 br
00 With "can't" we are saying that it is not possible that he has received the letter. 02 br
00 With "mustn't" we are saying that it has to be so that he has not received the letter. 02 br
02 br
00
0
Related Questions