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Park sang joon Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Would have ~ed in possible situation in the past

As far as I know, the phrase 'would have ~ed' is only used for the impossible situation in the past.

In any chance, could we use the phrase in order that we might surmise possible situation in the past?


For example, could we interpret the sentence "He would have taken a nap, after lunch"

as the sentence "I don't know whether or not he took a nap, after lunch, but I suppose he probably took a nap, after lunch."?

In advance, thank you for your help.
  

Top answer

"? Yes, you could, because it was his habit, as you know.

— Mister Micawber

  • "?
  • Yes, you could, because it was his habit, as you know.
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12 Answers
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park sang jooncould we interpret the sentence "He would have taken a nap, after lunch" as the sentence "I don't know whether or not he took a nap, after lunch, but I suppose he probably took a nap, after lunch."?
Yes, you could, because it was his habit, as you know.
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What do think about that, if he hasn't a habit of taking a nap?
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park sang joon, if he hasn't a habit of taking a nap?
Then the speaker would have little reason to say that.
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Then in any chance, could we use that usage with simple assumption except habitual actions?
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There is a good chance of most anything in English.
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MM wouldn't a better way to phrase that sentence be "He must have taken a nap after lunch"? Because the implication is he may or may not have, but would have translates as "he would have but he did not"
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HaddieMM wouldn't a better way to phrase that sentence be "He must have taken a nap after lunch"? Because the implication is he may or may not have, but would have translates as "he would have but he did not"
You are off-topic. We are not discussing the likelihood of the nap; we are discussing the uses of 'would' in the past.
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Your answer doesn't have a certainty.
Would you use that usage the way as I said.?
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MM that's what my question is about, the use of "would have" in the past which I understand to suggest something that could've happened but didn't as opposed to something that may or may not have happened. Just to be clear are you saying "would have taken a nap" means he may or may not have?
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