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Inchoateknowledge Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

'will' to mean something did not happen

I want to suggest something did not happen, though there was potential for it to happen.

1. That was not a good idea -- you will have hurt him.
2. That was not a good idea -- you might have hurt him.

Which sentence is closer in meaning to what I want to say: the first one or the second?
  

Top answer

I'd choose the second one, but I'd add a little something: "You're right, that wasn't a good idea. You might/could have hurt him".

— Pieanne

  • I'd choose the second one, but I'd add a little something: "You're right, that wasn't a good idea.
  • You might/could have hurt him".
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9 Answers
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I'd choose the second one, but I'd add a little something: "You're right, that wasn't a good idea. You might/could have hurt him".
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So you are telling me 'will' is not ok here.
I think the same way as you then.
Thanks
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I'm just telling you I wouldn't use it. Wait for a native, perhaps?
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The use of 'will' here is not correct.

Sentence two is fine, or you could use 'would' instead of will.
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It's not OK there.
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How would you use would there? Can you give an example?
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Is 'may have hurt him' equal to 'might have hurt him' here?
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I guess so. "May" may/might sound more probable than "might", but, from previous posts, I understand both are mostly interchangable.
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