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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Which type?
Hi all,
If the two leaders have come to the point of beginning a dialogue, they ................ an accord on general terms.
a) will reach
b) must have reached
Weird question. The writer of the question says option B is the only correct choice. He also claims that the whole sentence is in past tense. What do you think? Which type is it? I need an expanation here. Thanks.
If the two leaders have come to the point of beginning a dialogue, they ................ an accord on general terms.
a) will reach
b) must have reached
Weird question. The writer of the question says option B is the only correct choice. He also claims that the whole sentence is in past tense. What do you think? Which type is it? I need an expanation here. Thanks.
Top answer
Both answers are grammatical. I suppose (b) is semantically more likely. "have come" is present perfect; "must have reached" is a modal present perfect.
- Both answers are grammatical.
- I suppose (b) is semantically more likely.
- "have come" is present perfect; "must have reached" is a modal present perfect.
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8 Answers
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Both answers are grammatical. I suppose (b) is semantically more likely. "have come" is present perfect; "must have reached" is a modal present perfect.
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Thanks GPY.
Should we use "If" in this sentence. Can we use "now that" instead of "if"? I think "now that" is better. What do you think?
Should we use "If" in this sentence. Can we use "now that" instead of "if"? I think "now that" is better. What do you think?
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Assuming that the completion is (b), I see no reason why "now that" should be better than "if".
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GPY; "must have reached" is a modal present perfect.It's a modal perfect form, but it is not a modal present perfect. There is no present-tense verb in the construction. In any case, modal forms are, almost by definition, outside the tense system (unless you consider could, might, should and would to be the past-tense forms of can, may, shal
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fivejedjonIt's a modal perfect form, but it is not a modal present perfect.Stole my thoughts.
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Thank you.
But the writer of this question says that "if" doesn't express a conditional structure in this context. If is close to the meaning of "now that". Is it true? I'm confused.
But the writer of this question says that "if" doesn't express a conditional structure in this context. If is close to the meaning of "now that". Is it true? I'm confused.
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While I agree that "modal present perfect" is not a very common term (though not unknown), it is in this instance descriptively correct in my opinion, since "they must have reached" has the same tense intent as "they have reached", just with modal colouration.
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GPYWhile I agree that "modal present perfect" is not a very common term (though not unknown), it is in this instance descriptively correct in my opinion, since "they must have reached" has the same tense intent as "they have reached", just with modal colouration.Tense intent?
Does that mean that 'he will be in England now', having the same 'te
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