englishhobby
Key Member
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2009
- Member Type
- English Teacher
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- Russian
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- Russian Federation
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- Russian Federation
Can would have done be used for a repeated action in the past?
Consider the following examples:
1) He used to visit Jane' family quite often when he lived nextdoor to them.
2) He would visit Jane's family every now and then when he lived nextdoor to them.
3) He would have visited (= he often visited them in the past, a repeated action in the past)...............?
Is there a way to complete sentence 3) so that the verb visit would have a "repeated" meaning, describing a repeated action in the past (like in the first two examples)?
I am asking this question because I was told in this forum that it's possible, but I still doubt it and can only think of one use of would have done, for an action in the past that DID NOT actually happen: He would have visited Jane' family, if he had had time (but he DID NOT visit them).
Consider the following examples:
1) He used to visit Jane' family quite often when he lived nextdoor to them.
2) He would visit Jane's family every now and then when he lived nextdoor to them.
3) He would have visited (= he often visited them in the past, a repeated action in the past)...............?
Is there a way to complete sentence 3) so that the verb visit would have a "repeated" meaning, describing a repeated action in the past (like in the first two examples)?
I am asking this question because I was told in this forum that it's possible, but I still doubt it and can only think of one use of would have done, for an action in the past that DID NOT actually happen: He would have visited Jane' family, if he had had time (but he DID NOT visit them).