be supposed to

[beachboy]

Is there any difference between "The bill was supposed to be paid yesterday" and "The bill was supposed to have been paid yesterday"? Are both considered good English? If yes, which is more common in everyday English? Thanks

 

[riverkid]

Is there any difference between "The bill was supposed to be paid yesterday" and "The bill was supposed to have been paid yesterday"? Are both considered good English? If yes, which is more common in everyday English? Thanks

Other than the second one being a bit more emphatic, I'd say that there isn't much difference, BB. As to which is more common, I'm not sure but I'll hazard a guess that since the first one seems more like the normal neutral, it's probably more common. But that's only a guess.

 

[beachboy]

Thanks a lot, Riverkid! You were very helpful!

 

[beachboy]

What about "IF WE HANDN'T LOST THOSE DAYS, THE WORK WOULD HAVE BEEN FINISHED BY NOW". I have to admit that "would have been" and "by now", together in the sentence, sound terrible to my ears!!! I'd simply say "If...., the work would BE finished by now (or now, without the "by")". Am I totally mistaken?