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Musicgold Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Talking about the weekend

Hi,



Are the following sentences natural to a native ear?



1. I thought that he must have thought that Kate must be back from vacation on Saturday and must be at home. (I am saying this sentence on a Monday morning, describing what I thought on the Sunday).



2. It really stunk in the subway this morning. I guess, many people must have come to work without taking bath, because of the cold weather.



3. I thought he must have called you on Sunday to find out if you would be available to work on Monday.



Thanks,



MG
  

Top answer

Hi MG; Are the following sentences natural to a native ear? 1. I thought that he must have thought that Kate must be back from vacation on Saturday and must be at home.

— AlpheccaStars

  • Hi MG; Are the following sentences natural to a native ear?
  • 1.
  • I thought that he must have thought that Kate must be back from vacation on Saturday and must be at home.
  • (I am saying this sentence on a Monday morning, describing what I thought on the Sunday).
  • There is too much repetition: "must have" and "thought" I thought he must have assumed that Kate, having returned home from vacation Saturday, must be at home.
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7 Answers
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Hi MG;

Are the following sentences natural to a native ear?

1. I thought that he must have thought that Kate must be back from vacation on Saturday and must be at home. (I am saying this sentence on a Monday morning, describing what I thought on the Sunday).
There is too much repetition: "must have"
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Thanks AlpheccaStars.
AlpheccaStars1. I thought that he must have thought that Kate must be back from vacation on Saturday and must be at home. (I am saying this sentence on a Monday morning, describing what I thought on the Sunday). There is too much repetition: "must have" and "thought"I thought he must have assumed that Kate, having returned home from vacation Saturday
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He assumed is fairly close in meaning to he thought in your example.
MusicgoldAlso, are the following sentences interchangable?
4. He must have assumed that you must be back from vacation by Saturday.
5. He might have assumed that you would have been back from vacation by Saturday.
No. Must have is not the same as might hav
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Musicgold4. He must have assumed that you must be back from vacation by Saturday.
5. He might have assumed that you would have been back from vacation by Saturday.
Here's what I'd say. (The two are not the same, by the way.)

4. He must have assumed [you'd be / you were] back from vacation by Saturday.
5. He might have assumed [you'd be / you
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Thanks AlpheccaStars and CJ.
CalifJim.you'd be is nice and simple compared to you'd have been. I would certainly substitute the simple version in these
That is indeed a problem for me and many non-native speakers who started learning English with grammar books. We try to make our sentences as perfect as possible. Of course, there is nothing new here, it is a
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Musicgold just lamenting.
Anyone learning English is entitled to some lamenting once in a while!
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