The difference between “would mean” and “would have meant”
"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 21 hours ago
VolumetVolumet
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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 21 hours ago
VolumetVolumet
132
New contributor
Volumet is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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 21 hours ago
VolumetVolumet
132
New contributor
Volumet is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
"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 21 hours ago
VolumetVolumet
132
New contributor
Volumet is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 21 hours ago
VolumetVolumet
132
New contributor
Volumet is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 21 hours ago
VolumetVolumet
132
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Volumet is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 21 hours ago
VolumetVolumet
132
asked 21 hours ago
VolumetVolumet
132
132
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Volumet is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
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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 20 hours ago
michael_timofeevmichael_timofeev
5,76642147
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
13 hours ago
@TimFoster I addressed that in my answer.
– michael_timofeev
13 hours ago
Sorry, I don't see where.
– Tim Foster
13 hours ago
@TimFoster “The article addresses...”
– michael_timofeev
13 hours ago
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
13 hours ago
|
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 20 hours ago
michael_timofeevmichael_timofeev
5,76642147
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
13 hours ago
@TimFoster I addressed that in my answer.
– michael_timofeev
13 hours ago
Sorry, I don't see where.
– Tim Foster
13 hours ago
@TimFoster “The article addresses...”
– michael_timofeev
13 hours ago
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
13 hours ago
|
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 20 hours ago
michael_timofeevmichael_timofeev
5,76642147
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
13 hours ago
@TimFoster I addressed that in my answer.
– michael_timofeev
13 hours ago
Sorry, I don't see where.
– Tim Foster
13 hours ago
@TimFoster “The article addresses...”
– michael_timofeev
13 hours ago
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
13 hours ago
|
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 20 hours ago
michael_timofeevmichael_timofeev
5,76642147
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 20 hours ago
michael_timofeevmichael_timofeev
5,76642147
edited 12 hours ago
answered 20 hours ago
michael_timofeevmichael_timofeev
5,76642147
answered 20 hours ago
michael_timofeevmichael_timofeev
5,76642147
answered 20 hours ago
michael_timofeevmichael_timofeev
5,76642147
5,76642147
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
13 hours ago
@TimFoster I addressed that in my answer.
– michael_timofeev
13 hours ago
Sorry, I don't see where.
– Tim Foster
13 hours ago
@TimFoster “The article addresses...”
– michael_timofeev
13 hours ago
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
13 hours ago
|
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
13 hours ago
@TimFoster I addressed that in my answer.
– michael_timofeev
13 hours ago
Sorry, I don't see where.
– Tim Foster
13 hours ago
@TimFoster “The article addresses...”
– michael_timofeev
13 hours ago
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
13 hours ago
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
13 hours ago
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
13 hours ago
@TimFoster I addressed that in my answer.
– michael_timofeev
13 hours ago
@TimFoster I addressed that in my answer.
– michael_timofeev
13 hours ago
Sorry, I don't see where.
– Tim Foster
13 hours ago
Sorry, I don't see where.
– Tim Foster
13 hours ago
@TimFoster “The article addresses...”
– michael_timofeev
13 hours ago
@TimFoster “The article addresses...”
– michael_timofeev
13 hours ago
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
13 hours ago
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
13 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
Volumet is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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