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I can't grasp the difference between their usages. Could you explain them over the following examples?

  • It was half past five. Dad would have finished work.
  • It was half past five. Dad would finish work.

I can't perceive any difference. But if I guess, in first sentence, the speaker is not sure concerning finish of the work. Yet, on the second, he is sure.

1 Answer 1

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In the first example, the person thought "It is half past five. Dad has finished work [by now]".

The second example doesn't make sense without something being added.

It was half past five. Dad would finish work soon or at six, for example.

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