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ColleenV
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Post Migrated Here from english.stackexchange.com (revisions)
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Why do narrators use "would" instead of "would have" when narrating?

I'm reading a novel; here's a paragraph (the parts with " are the dialogues and without " the narration):

"That's just indecent!! Who could have written this!?"

My face reddened in anger. If I didn't yell something out, I wouldn't be able to hide my shaking! Ahh, who did write that!?.

Another different paragraph:

"Oh my, it's A! Thank you for always looking after B..!"

"Ah.. Ma'am.. He's also been looking out for.."

Why are you blushing just from meeting my mom!?

"Don't get all flustered! It really doesn't feel right! Let's go, A!"

Since A would continue to space out if I left her here, I grabbed her hand and dragged her out.

So I'm wondering why they use would instead of would have like in first paragraph I wouldn't be able instead I wouldn't have been able to. And in second paragraph Since A would continue to instead of Since A would have continued to I mean since the protagonist is narrating it means it's something that already happened so would have is more appropriate, isn't it?