Would Have Expected Meaning?

It means "If I had been asked to predict how you would behave, I would have expected..." Nobody in fact asked me to predict how you would behave. As a result "I would have thought he would" is frequently used to introduce a reasonable expectation that is not fulfilled. T.

Have expected or had expected?

You are right that I have expected is incorrect, since have relates to a completed action, and expect is not really an action. I expected is past simple, and relates to something that happened before now. I had expected is past perfect, which relates to something that happened before some event in the past.

Would have be or would have been?

Re: "would be" vs "would have been"

"Would have been" refers to your life until now; "would be" refers to the present moment and foreseeable future.

James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.