would behave better vs. would have behaved better

[raymondaliasapollyon]

Hi,

What's the difference between a and b?

a. I thought John would behave better.

b. I thought John would have behaved better.

I'd appreciate your help.

 

[emsr2d2]

What is the timeframe being referred to here? When did poor behaviour happen?

 

[raymondaliasapollyon]

Suppose the poor behavior happened last Friday and the speaker has just learned John didn't behave well.

 

[Tarheel]

Perhaps:

I'm disappointed in John. I expected better of him.

I know you want to use "behaved better" but I can't justify it in the context you provided. Instead, my sentences (in my opinion) fit the occasion better. If you absolutely have to have "behave better", try:

I expected him to behave better.

 

[raymondaliasapollyon]

Let's try a different verb phrase:

c. I thought he would visit Sarah.
d. I thought he would have visited Sarah.

What's the difference in meaning between the two?

 

[5jj]

c. I thought "He will visit Sarah".
d, I thought "He will have visited Sarah".

 

[raymondaliasapollyon]

Is (c) a case of "future in the past," while (d) describes "past within the past"?

Or does (d) describe "he will have visited Sarah" also as a future event relative to the time of "thought"?

 

[5jj]

"He will have visited Sarah" could mean "I am certain that he (has) visited Sarah" or He will visit Sarah before a certain future time".

Context should help make the meaning clear.

 

[Tdol]

Hi,

What's the difference between a and b?

a. I thought John would behave better.

b. I thought John would have behaved better.

I'd appreciate your help.

If you're talking about a single instance of him behaving badly, then there is no difference. However, if you're talking about a pattern of behaviour, then the the second is restricted to specific circumstances, while the first suggests that John might still be behaving badly.

 

[Tarheel]

"I thought he would visit Sarah."

He didn't visit her, but I expected him to.

 

[raymondaliasapollyon]

If you're talking about a single instance of him behaving badly, then there is no difference. However, if you're talking about a pattern of behaviour, then the the second is restricted to specific circumstances, while the first suggests that John might still be behaving badly.

Do you think the distinctions made in post #8 are compatible with your usage?