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Pructus Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Would've thought

Hi,

Below is from the drama, "prison break", season 4, episode 17.

Lincoln's mother: That's the only reason you came here?

Lincoln: Yeah.

Lincoln's mother: I really would've thought you wanted to know the truth.

Lincoln: I know the truth. You work for the company. The same people that set me up for murder.

The underlined, "would've thought", what does this mean?

Is it same meaning with "had thought"? Or more polite, or more moderate way of saying "had thought"?

Or is it to be understood as a kind of condition or subjunctive mood?

What should be the native speaker's sense of English in this part?
  

Top answer

pructus The underlined, "would've thought", what does this mean? "would have thought" Present point of view I think, I'm thinking I would think ~ the hypothetical form of I think, I'm thinking Past point of view I thought, I was thinking I would have thought ~ the hypothetical form of I thought, I was thinking _____________ I would have thought that X is often said when the speaker finds out that he is wrong about X. The speaker had believed X before he found out, but then found out that X was not true.

— CalifJim

  • pructus The underlined, "would've thought", what does this mean?
  • "would have thought" Present point of view I think, I'm thinking I would think ~ the hypothetical form of I think, I'm thinking Past point of view I thought, I was thinking I would have thought ~ the hypothetical form of I thought, I was thinking _____________ I would have thought that X is often said when the speaker finds out that he is wrong about X.
  • The speaker had believed X before he found out, but then found out that X was not true.
  • When you look at it this way, I would have thought is somewhat like I was (mistakenly) thinking .
  • -- This is Bobby.
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2 Answers
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pructusThe underlined, "would've thought", what does this mean?
"would have thought"

Present point of view

I think, I'm thinking

I would think ~ the hypothetical form of I think, I'm thinking


Past point of view

I thought, I was thinking


I would have thought ~ th
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Oh!!

Thanks so much, Calif!!!

Now, the "would've P.P." became crystal clear to me...
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