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Contraposition Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

would have -ed

Is 'would have -ed' always counterfactual?
  

Top answer

No. A: I saw a girl in a very fashionable red dress yesterday. I wonder who that was!

  • No.
  • A: I saw a girl in a very fashionable red dress yesterday.
  • I wonder who that was!
  • B: That would have been Mary.
  • She's always dressed to the nines.
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4 Answers
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No.

A: I saw a girl in a very fashionable red dress yesterday. I wonder who that was!
B: That would have been Mary. She's always dressed to the nines.
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What is the difference from 'may have -ed'?
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A: I saw a girl in a very fashionable red dress yesterday. I wonder who that was!
B: That would have been Mary. She's always dressed to the nines.

A: I saw a girl in a very fashionable red dress yesterday. I wonder who that was!
B: That may have been Mary. She's always dressed to the nines.

In the first conversation, B is certain that the girl was Mary. In t
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AlpheccaStarsA: I saw a girl in a very fashionable red dress yesterday. I wonder who that was!B: That would have been Mary. She's always dressed to the nines.A: I saw a girl in a very fashionable red dress yesterday. I wonder who that was!B: That may have been Mary. She's always dressed to the nines.In the first conversation, B is certain that the girl was Mary. In the se

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