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Haddie Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Which is correct?

"I didn't (at some point in the past) call to ask if I could come for a visit because I knew by now (at the present moment) they 'would/will have left'."
What would be correct here if I'm talking about the present moment (by now) but referring to a past one (didn't call)?
  

Top answer

" The question is why you write "because I knew" (a past tense) and then claim, I suppose because it's followed by 'by now', that it's "at the present moment". ". ".

— CalifJim

  • " The question is why you write "because I knew" (a past tense) and then claim, I suppose because it's followed by 'by now', that it's "at the present moment".
  • ".
  • ".
  • If you meant the latter, then you should have written 'by now' at the end.
  • I find the sentence, as you have described it, logically incoherent.
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4 Answers
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Haddie"I didn't (at some point in the past) call to ask if I could come for a visit because I knew by now (at the present moment) they 'would/will have left'."
The question is why you write "because I knew" (a past tense) and then claim, I suppose because it's followed by 'by now', that it's "at the present moment".

I'm thinking of it as "because I kn
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Thank you for your help CJ.
I meant the latter.
So it would be.
I didn't (at some point in the past) call to ask if I could come for a visit because I knew that they would have left by now. (this present moment in which I speak)
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I'm actually confused about the use of "would have" in a sentence like this. Because "would have" is normally used in past conditionals for something that would have happened if a condtion had been met.
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HaddieSo it would be.
I didn't call to ask if I could come for a visit because I knew that they would have left by now.
Exactly.
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