try to have done something (the perfect infinitive)

[tzfujimino]

Hello, everyone.:-D

A while ago, I found a sentence using this construction ('try to have done...') in somebody's thread.
I'm used to the 'perfect infinitive (to have + past participle)" which is used when speculating about the past, such as

"The bombs seem to have contained mustard gas, and perhaps the nerve agent sarin."
(= It seems that the bombs contained mustard gas, and perhaps ...)

or (with modals)

English Grammar | LearnEnglish | British Council | Modals ? deduction past

So, when I read "Try your best to have finished...", it didn't sound natural/grammatical to me.
However, after some research, I found that "hope to have done...", "need to have done..." and "try to have done..." are all possible.

Now, I'd like to check if I understand these expressions correctly, so I'm going to make my own sentences using them:

1. I hope to have decorated the room before my daughter comes back.
2. I need to have finished writing the report by the time I meet Mr. X.
3. I'll try to have collected enough information by the next meeting.

Do these sentences above work?

Thank you.

 

[bhaisahab]

Hello, everyone.:-D

A while ago, I found a sentence using this construction ('try to have done...') in somebody's thread.
I'm used to the 'perfect infinitive (to have + past participle)" which is used when speculating about the past, such as

"The bombs seem to have contained mustard gas, and perhaps the nerve agent sarin."
(= It seems that the bombs contained mustard gas, and perhaps ...)

or (with modals)

English Grammar | LearnEnglish | British Council | Modals ? deduction past

So, when I read "Try your best to have finished...", it didn't sound natural/grammatical to me.
However, after some research, I found that "hope to have done...", "need to have done..." and "try to have done..." are all possible.

Now, I'd like to check if I understand these expressions correctly, so I'm going to make my own sentences using them:

1. I hope to have decorated the room before my daughter comes back.
2. I need to have finished writing the report by the time I meet Mr. X.
3. I'll try to have collected enough information by the next meeting.

Do these sentences above work?

Thank you.

Yes, they are fine.