I shouldn't have thought/shouldn't think that it...

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Viceidol  #490143  Tue, 18 Mar 08 03:39 AM

Hi, I have a doubt about "I should think..." and "I should have thought...". I have asked a similar question in an earlier post. Although I have a clue what it is all about, I'm not completely sure about this. Anyway, please take a look at the following sentences first:

"He doesn't know English at all and is looking for a job." "I shouldn't think that he'd find it easy to get work." (Does it refer to "the present" like "I don't think he'd find it easy to get work."?)

"He actually passed the exam." "I shouldn't have thought it was possible to do that."   (Does it refer to "the past" like "I didn't think it was possible to do that."?)

Please help me solve my doubt. Thanks again!

 

  
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Mister Micawber  #490171  Tue, 18 Mar 08 05:56 AM
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I agree that they refer to present and past thinking, respectively.
  
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Viceidol  #490473  Wed, 19 Mar 08 02:16 AM

Thank you for your answer!

  
CalifJim  #490479  Wed, 19 Mar 08 02:54 AM
Note that these uses of should are not as common in the U.S.  In AmE we are very likely to substitute would or to leave out the modal completely and use paraphrases like those that you gave above.

CJ 

  
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