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"I would have thought that you would have done XYZ rather than ABC". And similar formulations.
The actual meaning comes through loud and clear as "I do think that you ought to have done XYZ rather than ABC". What's the purpose of beating around the bush verbally?
Normally, "I would have ..." means that, in some other circumstance, that's what I would have done, but in this case I'm doing something else. Except, in this particular construction that's exactly what they are doing, so the "would have" seems quite out of place. If you understand my meaning. -- Jack of Oz [pleasantries] 03:10, 19 February 2021 (UTC)
Language desk | ||
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< February 18 | << Jan | February | Mar >> | February 20 > |
Welcome to the Wikipedia Language Reference Desk Archives |
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The page you are currently viewing is a transcluded archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages. |
"I would have thought that you would have done XYZ rather than ABC". And similar formulations.
The actual meaning comes through loud and clear as "I do think that you ought to have done XYZ rather than ABC". What's the purpose of beating around the bush verbally?
Normally, "I would have ..." means that, in some other circumstance, that's what I would have done, but in this case I'm doing something else. Except, in this particular construction that's exactly what they are doing, so the "would have" seems quite out of place. If you understand my meaning. -- Jack of Oz [pleasantries] 03:10, 19 February 2021 (UTC)