To Be, or Not to Have Been: perfect infinitives

englishwithjennifer — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:05:24 +0000

I recently got stumped by an old question I had considered in a previous post on perfect infinitives. What do I really believe about perfect infinitives? Am I certain when and when not to use them? Apparently others are stumped, too, because I see inconsistency even among journalists and novelists. Using the Corpus of Contemporary American English, I see a few instances of perfect modals (would have liked) combined with perfect infinitives (to have seen). This double use of perfect forms seems a bit redundant to me, but is there any source to confirm it’s incorrect?

Here’s my take on the use of perfect modals vs. perfect infinitives:

Perfect infinitives can express a past time: She claims to have met many famous people.
Perfect infinitives can express an earlier past point in time: He seemed to have lost his way, so I approached him and offered help.
Perfect modals can express a regret or a wish that was never realized: While growing up, I would have loved to have a sister. (Also possible: I would love to have had a sister. Redundant: I would have loved to have had a sister.)

If you agree with the logic above, then you might like to offer your advanced students the conversation activity on my Perfect infinitives_handout.

Student Stumper 3: Perfect Infinitives

englishwithjennifer — Mon, 25 May 2009 02:26:53 +0000

QUESTION: Do we really need a past form of the infinitive? The book says “would like to have seen”. Can’t I just say “would have liked to see”? Is it possible to say “would have liked to have seen”?

ANSWER: It’s true that often there is more than one way to express an idea. For example, the statements I’d rather not go and I’d prefer not to go are synonymous. Then again, some structures are synonymous in meaning but not in register. But and nevertheless can both express a contrast, but the latter is more formal.

I think these statements are synonymous:

I would have liked to see that.
I would like to have seen that.

Some may argue otherwise. Would you? Do you think that “would have liked” refers to a past possibility (It would have made me happy to see that, but I wasn’t there) and “would like” refers to a present possibility (Having seen that, I would be happy now)?

I think this statement (much like a double negative in English) is incorrect:

I would have liked to have seen that.

Consider these concrete examples:

There are some past U.S. presidential inaugurations many would have liked to see.
Some consider elections more exciting than inaugurations. They discuss which elections they would like to have seen.
Not all scenes filmed make it into a TV show or film. Aren’t there some deleted scenes you would have liked to see from your favorite film?

Changing the verbs and avoiding modals, we see less confusion:

You seem to have recovered. (= It seems that you recovered.)

> Now you appear healthy. You must have recovered from your illness.

You seemed to have recovered. (= It seemed to me that you had recovered.)

> The last time I saw you, you appeared healthy, but I suppose you had a relapse since that time.

Are you stumped by perfect infinitives? Can you offer any insight?

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To Be, or Not to Have Been: perfect infinitives

Student Stumper 3: Perfect Infinitives