The difference between “would mean” and “would have meant”
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"He could not afford to be out of the public eye; it ____ the death of his political career".
The answer for this is either "would mean" or "would have meant" can be used. But I'm quite confused because "would have meant" meaning here is not clear. Can anybody explain this to me?
past-tense
asked Mar 26 at 2:42
VolumetVolumet
132
add a comment |
"He could not afford to be out of the public eye; it ____ the death of his political career".
The answer for this is either "would mean" or "would have meant" can be used. But I'm quite confused because "would have meant" meaning here is not clear. Can anybody explain this to me?
past-tense
asked Mar 26 at 2:42
VolumetVolumet
132
add a comment |
"He could not afford to be out of the public eye; it ____ the death of his political career".
The answer for this is either "would mean" or "would have meant" can be used. But I'm quite confused because "would have meant" meaning here is not clear. Can anybody explain this to me?
past-tense
asked Mar 26 at 2:42
VolumetVolumet
132
"He could not afford to be out of the public eye; it ____ the death of his political career".
The answer for this is either "would mean" or "would have meant" can be used. But I'm quite confused because "would have meant" meaning here is not clear. Can anybody explain this to me?
past-tense
past-tense
asked Mar 26 at 2:42
VolumetVolumet
132
asked Mar 26 at 2:42
VolumetVolumet
132
asked Mar 26 at 2:42
VolumetVolumet
132
asked Mar 26 at 2:42
VolumetVolumet
132
asked Mar 26 at 2:42
VolumetVolumet
132
132
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
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In order to use would mean (a hypothetical) in your sentence, you need to change "could" to "can," so; "He can not afford to be out of the public eye; it would mean the death of his public career." This is a future conditional.
"Would have meant" is talking about an alternative past timeline. In order to use that expression, you need to change "could" to "could not have afforded." So the sentence should read, "He could not have afforded to be out out of the public eye; it would have meant the death of his public career."
answered Mar 26 at 3:18
michael_timofeevmichael_timofeev
5,78842247
1
You do not need to change "could not afford" to "could not have afforded". The sentence works as it is, as both clauses are in the past. It is fine to pair a simple past clause with a perfect.
– Tim Foster
Mar 26 at 10:07
@TimFoster I addressed that in my answer.
– michael_timofeev
Mar 26 at 10:10
Sorry, I don't see where.
– Tim Foster
Mar 26 at 10:17
@TimFoster “The article addresses...”
– michael_timofeev
Mar 26 at 10:20
Ah, my point is a little different. I'm saying that the first part here is not a conditional "if" statement (it's not "If he could not afford to be out of the public eye..."). Instead, the "could" is simply the simple past of "can", and "He could not afford to be out of the public eye" functions as its own sentence in the simple past. In fact, I think I was wrong to call it a clause.
– Tim Foster
Mar 26 at 10:29
|
show 2 more comments
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1 Answer
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In order to use would mean (a hypothetical) in your sentence, you need to change "could" to "can," so; "He can not afford to be out of the public eye; it would mean the death of his public career." This is a future conditional.
"Would have meant" is talking about an alternative past timeline. In order to use that expression, you need to change "could" to "could not have afforded." So the sentence should read, "He could not have afforded to be out out of the public eye; it would have meant the death of his public career."
answered Mar 26 at 3:18
michael_timofeevmichael_timofeev
5,78842247
1
You do not need to change "could not afford" to "could not have afforded". The sentence works as it is, as both clauses are in the past. It is fine to pair a simple past clause with a perfect.
– Tim Foster
Mar 26 at 10:07
@TimFoster I addressed that in my answer.
– michael_timofeev
Mar 26 at 10:10
Sorry, I don't see where.
– Tim Foster
Mar 26 at 10:17
@TimFoster “The article addresses...”
– michael_timofeev
Mar 26 at 10:20
Ah, my point is a little different. I'm saying that the first part here is not a conditional "if" statement (it's not "If he could not afford to be out of the public eye..."). Instead, the "could" is simply the simple past of "can", and "He could not afford to be out of the public eye" functions as its own sentence in the simple past. In fact, I think I was wrong to call it a clause.
– Tim Foster
Mar 26 at 10:29
|
show 2 more comments
In order to use would mean (a hypothetical) in your sentence, you need to change "could" to "can," so; "He can not afford to be out of the public eye; it would mean the death of his public career." This is a future conditional.
"Would have meant" is talking about an alternative past timeline. In order to use that expression, you need to change "could" to "could not have afforded." So the sentence should read, "He could not have afforded to be out out of the public eye; it would have meant the death of his public career."
answered Mar 26 at 3:18
michael_timofeevmichael_timofeev
5,78842247
1
You do not need to change "could not afford" to "could not have afforded". The sentence works as it is, as both clauses are in the past. It is fine to pair a simple past clause with a perfect.
– Tim Foster
Mar 26 at 10:07
@TimFoster I addressed that in my answer.
– michael_timofeev
Mar 26 at 10:10
Sorry, I don't see where.
– Tim Foster
Mar 26 at 10:17
@TimFoster “The article addresses...”
– michael_timofeev
Mar 26 at 10:20
Ah, my point is a little different. I'm saying that the first part here is not a conditional "if" statement (it's not "If he could not afford to be out of the public eye..."). Instead, the "could" is simply the simple past of "can", and "He could not afford to be out of the public eye" functions as its own sentence in the simple past. In fact, I think I was wrong to call it a clause.
– Tim Foster
Mar 26 at 10:29
|
show 2 more comments
In order to use would mean (a hypothetical) in your sentence, you need to change "could" to "can," so; "He can not afford to be out of the public eye; it would mean the death of his public career." This is a future conditional.
"Would have meant" is talking about an alternative past timeline. In order to use that expression, you need to change "could" to "could not have afforded." So the sentence should read, "He could not have afforded to be out out of the public eye; it would have meant the death of his public career."
answered Mar 26 at 3:18
michael_timofeevmichael_timofeev
5,78842247
In order to use would mean (a hypothetical) in your sentence, you need to change "could" to "can," so; "He can not afford to be out of the public eye; it would mean the death of his public career." This is a future conditional.
"Would have meant" is talking about an alternative past timeline. In order to use that expression, you need to change "could" to "could not have afforded." So the sentence should read, "He could not have afforded to be out out of the public eye; it would have meant the death of his public career."
answered Mar 26 at 3:18
michael_timofeevmichael_timofeev
5,78842247
edited Mar 26 at 11:02
answered Mar 26 at 3:18
michael_timofeevmichael_timofeev
5,78842247
answered Mar 26 at 3:18
michael_timofeevmichael_timofeev
5,78842247
answered Mar 26 at 3:18
michael_timofeevmichael_timofeev
5,78842247
5,78842247
1
You do not need to change "could not afford" to "could not have afforded". The sentence works as it is, as both clauses are in the past. It is fine to pair a simple past clause with a perfect.
– Tim Foster
Mar 26 at 10:07
@TimFoster I addressed that in my answer.
– michael_timofeev
Mar 26 at 10:10
Sorry, I don't see where.
– Tim Foster
Mar 26 at 10:17
@TimFoster “The article addresses...”
– michael_timofeev
Mar 26 at 10:20
Ah, my point is a little different. I'm saying that the first part here is not a conditional "if" statement (it's not "If he could not afford to be out of the public eye..."). Instead, the "could" is simply the simple past of "can", and "He could not afford to be out of the public eye" functions as its own sentence in the simple past. In fact, I think I was wrong to call it a clause.
– Tim Foster
Mar 26 at 10:29
|
show 2 more comments
1
You do not need to change "could not afford" to "could not have afforded". The sentence works as it is, as both clauses are in the past. It is fine to pair a simple past clause with a perfect.
– Tim Foster
Mar 26 at 10:07
@TimFoster I addressed that in my answer.
– michael_timofeev
Mar 26 at 10:10
Sorry, I don't see where.
– Tim Foster
Mar 26 at 10:17
@TimFoster “The article addresses...”
– michael_timofeev
Mar 26 at 10:20
Ah, my point is a little different. I'm saying that the first part here is not a conditional "if" statement (it's not "If he could not afford to be out of the public eye..."). Instead, the "could" is simply the simple past of "can", and "He could not afford to be out of the public eye" functions as its own sentence in the simple past. In fact, I think I was wrong to call it a clause.
– Tim Foster
Mar 26 at 10:29
1
1
You do not need to change "could not afford" to "could not have afforded". The sentence works as it is, as both clauses are in the past. It is fine to pair a simple past clause with a perfect.
– Tim Foster
Mar 26 at 10:07
You do not need to change "could not afford" to "could not have afforded". The sentence works as it is, as both clauses are in the past. It is fine to pair a simple past clause with a perfect.
– Tim Foster
Mar 26 at 10:07
@TimFoster I addressed that in my answer.
– michael_timofeev
Mar 26 at 10:10
@TimFoster I addressed that in my answer.
– michael_timofeev
Mar 26 at 10:10
Sorry, I don't see where.
– Tim Foster
Mar 26 at 10:17
Sorry, I don't see where.
– Tim Foster
Mar 26 at 10:17
@TimFoster “The article addresses...”
– michael_timofeev
Mar 26 at 10:20
@TimFoster “The article addresses...”
– michael_timofeev
Mar 26 at 10:20
Ah, my point is a little different. I'm saying that the first part here is not a conditional "if" statement (it's not "If he could not afford to be out of the public eye..."). Instead, the "could" is simply the simple past of "can", and "He could not afford to be out of the public eye" functions as its own sentence in the simple past. In fact, I think I was wrong to call it a clause.
– Tim Foster
Mar 26 at 10:29
Ah, my point is a little different. I'm saying that the first part here is not a conditional "if" statement (it's not "If he could not afford to be out of the public eye..."). Instead, the "could" is simply the simple past of "can", and "He could not afford to be out of the public eye" functions as its own sentence in the simple past. In fact, I think I was wrong to call it a clause.
– Tim Foster
Mar 26 at 10:29
|
show 2 more comments
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