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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Would have

I knew that apples would have grown on the trees by this summer. Does it mean the apples actually grew on the trees?

I thought that apples would have grown on the trees by this summer. Does it mean it didn't grow by this summer?

One more question, are they both indirect statements?
  

Top answer

The assumption with the first sentence is that the apples grew as expected. The assumption with the second sentence is that for some reason, the apples didn't grow, despite your expectation that they would. The second sentence could also merely state that you thought that, regardless of what actually transpired.

— Englishmaven

  • The assumption with the first sentence is that the apples grew as expected.
  • The assumption with the second sentence is that for some reason, the apples didn't grow, despite your expectation that they would.
  • The second sentence could also merely state that you thought that, regardless of what actually transpired.
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4 Answers
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The assumption with the first sentence is that the apples grew as expected.

The assumption with the second sentence is that for some reason, the apples didn't grow, despite your expectation that they would.

The second sentence could also merely state that you thought that, regardless of what actually transpired.
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whats the difference between I thought apples would grow on the trees by this summer. And I thought apples would have grown on the trees by this summer. whats the exact difference in meaning? Please help.
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It's rarely possible to talk of exact meanings when we are considering reported thoughts and using modal verbs. A great deal depends on context.
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AnonymousI thought apples would grow on the trees by this summer.
To my ear, the summer is still on its way. To me it says something like I'm hoping that eventually we'll get apples on these trees; it seems possible to me that we will.
AnonymousI thought apples would have grown on the trees by this summer.
To my ear,
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