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Gargie Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Was to be or was to have been
Please look at the following
1. He was supposed to be home by now. This means we are talking about now.
2. He was supposed to have been home by now. But I don't understand when do I use this sentence and what difference is there between #1 and #2.
Please help me.
Thank you
1. He was supposed to be home by now. This means we are talking about now.
2. He was supposed to have been home by now. But I don't understand when do I use this sentence and what difference is there between #1 and #2.
Please help me.
Thank you
Top answer
They say the same thing, but just from a different mental viewpoint. In #1 the speaker sees that he is not home now; in #2 the speaker sees that he did not arrive before now.
- They say the same thing, but just from a different mental viewpoint.
- In #1 the speaker sees that he is not home now; in #2 the speaker sees that he did not arrive before now.
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3 Answers
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They say the same thing, but just from a different mental viewpoint. In #1 the speaker sees that he is not home now; in #2 the speaker sees that he did not arrive before now.
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Thanks MM.
But can't we use #2 in the static sense as #1? Like he was not home before now.
Thank you.
But can't we use #2 in the static sense as #1? Like he was not home before now.
Thank you.
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GargieBut can't we use #2 in the static sense as #1? Like he was not home before now.Yes, yes, they both mean the same thing. I was trying to give you a difference; it is only a mental perspective, not a meaning.
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