0
Pructus Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Would have looked strange

I liked the hush, the gloom, the quaintness of these retreats in the day; but I by no means coveted a night’s repose on one of those wide and heavy beds: shut in, some of them, with doors of oak; shaded, others, with wrought old English hangings crusted with thick work, portraying effigies of strange flowers, and stranger birds, and strangest human beings,— all which would have looked strange, indeed, by the pallid gleam of moonlight.

*** *** ***

Hi, Forum Gurus and Members!

The above is an excerpt from Jane Eyre. The underined "would have looked"... Does this mean that (A) actually they looked strange by the moonlight, or (B) not actually looked strange, but the writer was thinking that it would look strange if they were under the moonlight?

Or (C) we don't know for sure unless more information is provided?
  

Top answer

I would say (B). also, The auxiliary verb "would" (in this case a conditional modal verb I think) implies a possibility, not an experience. Cheers

— CopenhagenCalling

  • I would say (B).
  • also, The auxiliary verb "would" (in this case a conditional modal verb I think) implies a possibility, not an experience.
  • Cheers
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

4 Answers
0
I would say (B). We are to assume the writer has avoided being there by night and is assuming it must look scary..also, The auxiliary verb "would" (in this case a conditional modal verb I think) implies a possibility, not an experience.

Cheers
0
0
Thanks so much, CopenhagenCalling!!

I see...

By the way... "would have looked" is suitable here? How about "would look"?

To my non-native sense, "would look" seems to be appropriate here....
0
0
hmm noo..I think it is a matter of stylistic choice, but a reasonable one. If you look at the first verb in the quote, "liked", you can see how the author simply keeps the idea of looking back by saying "would have looked" rather than "would look".

Btw I'm non-native too, just a student (although not a young one
0
0
Thanks again...

You mean that the writer was reflecting the the past events, considering the word "liked" was used?

And that's why, "would have looked" is more suitable?

So, in that case, if "would look" is used, it will mean the event that actually happened, and if "would have looked" is used, it will mean the event that did not actually happen, but the event the writer
0

Related Questions