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Seagull Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
The meaning of "must have p.p." etc.
Please allow me to ask some questions similar to the one I posted several hours ago.
I understand that we can use the "should have p.p." form when we want to say "I think there is some possibility that someone has arrived at a point. Then, how about the sentences below? I suppose (at least) some of them can substitute for "should have arrived." Which sounds natural and which does not?
(A) Frank must have arrived at the airport by now.
(B) Frank will have arrived at the airport by now.
(C) Frank would have arrived at the airport by now.
(D) Frank may have arrived at the airport by now.
(E) Frank might have arrived at the airport by now.
I understand that we can use the "should have p.p." form when we want to say "I think there is some possibility that someone has arrived at a point. Then, how about the sentences below? I suppose (at least) some of them can substitute for "should have arrived." Which sounds natural and which does not?
(A) Frank must have arrived at the airport by now.
(B) Frank will have arrived at the airport by now.
(C) Frank would have arrived at the airport by now.
(D) Frank may have arrived at the airport by now.
(E) Frank might have arrived at the airport by now.
Top answer
Those could all be used. A, B and C express more certainty than D and E.
- Those could all be used.
- A, B and C express more certainty than D and E.
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10 Answers
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Those could all be used. A, B and C express more certainty than D and E.
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Thank you so much indeed, GPY.
Is "Frank can [could] have arrived at the airport by now" also possible?
Is "Frank can [could] have arrived at the airport by now" also possible?
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seagullIs "Frank can [could] have arrived at the airport by now" also possible?"could" is possible (similar level of certainty to "may/might").
"can" does not work there.
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GPY seagullIs "Frank can [could] have arrived at the airport by now" also possible?"could" is possible (similar level of certainty to "may/might")."can" does not work there.Frank could have arrived at the airport by now.
Could the above be interpreted as a reproach to express a disappointment that Frank hasn't arrived yet?
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It's possible. Intonation and facial expression will show this when the words are spoken.
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A footnote to my last post.
Modal verbs can each convey a very wide range of meanings, and there can be considerable overlap between the meaning-ranges of individual modals.Native speakers can normally imply/infer the 'correct' meaning from context, including wider context, but it is often difficult for someone not involved in the conversation/correspondence to say exactly what a speaker
Modal verbs can each convey a very wide range of meanings, and there can be considerable overlap between the meaning-ranges of individual modals.Native speakers can normally imply/infer the 'correct' meaning from context, including wider context, but it is often difficult for someone not involved in the conversation/correspondence to say exactly what a speaker
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fivejedjonModal verbs can each convey a very wide range of meaningsThank you for the reply.
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