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 #2 (permalink) Thu Apr 15, 2010 6:21 am What is the difference between these two sentence? |
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Only when you put the sentences in specific context, can you tell the difference.
1. "They must recognize me." has two possible meanings.
Ex: They must recognize me, otherwise I won't be their friends anymore. (Obligation)
They must recognize me since I'm wearing such a beautiful dress. (Certainty)
2. "They must have recognized me." indicates past certainty.
Ex: They must have recognized me when I went to their class yesterday.
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 Atomos
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| #3 (permalink) Thu Apr 15, 2010 6:57 am What is the difference between these two sentence? |
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First of all, thank you for your help!!! It's very clear now!!!
but I still have one more question... hope you can help me again!
They must have recognized me when I went to their class yesterday.
what do you we call this structure of the sentence above?
i mean things like conditionals.. comparatives... sth like that.
coz i want the 'name' of it so I can search around and know more about sentences like this. |
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Wingche
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Beeesneees
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| #5 (permalink) Thu Apr 15, 2010 7:53 am What is the difference between these two sentence? |
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Hi Beeesneees,
| Quote: |
| 'Must have' is the passive modal perfect form. |
You don't really mean that,do you?
Alan
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| #6 (permalink) Thu Apr 15, 2010 8:06 am What is the difference between these two sentence? |
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Hi Wingche,
Your question about the differences:
| Quote: |
They must recognize me.
They must have recognized me. |
In the first sentence the meaning is that it is certain that they recognize me now. In the second sentence the suggestion is that it is clear that they recognized me then.
Imagine that you see someone and you know that they know you and so you wave your hand to greet them and are surprised that there is no reaction and so you say:
That's very strange because they must know who I am and must recognize me.
Imagine another situation where you repeat to another person what you experienced earlier and you say:
It doesn't make sense. I know they saw me earlier today but they took no notice of me but surely they must have recognized me.
'
'Must recognize me'. Here 'recognize is a present infinitive and 'Must have recognized'. Here 'have recognized' is the perfect infinitive.
Alan
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| Is there no even(n)ing? | have been to vs. had been in |
