[Grammar] Modal auxiliaries in the past

[PooMer]

Hi
I came across the grammar of modal auxiliaries in the past in Oxford American Headway book. But I'm not sure about the meaning of this example:

· You met a man with a moustache? That would have been my uncle Tom.
· It won’t have been Peter you met at the party. He wasn’t invited.


Thank you for any help you can provide.

 

[bhaisahab]

Hi
I came across the grammar of modal auxiliaries in the past in Oxford American Headway book. But I'm not sure about the meaning of this example:

· You met a man with a moustache? That would have been my uncle Tom.
· It won’t have been Peter you met at the party. He wasn’t invited.


Thank you for any help you can provide.

"won't have been" = "will not have been".

 

[Weaver67]

As fas as I know, this is about making deductions about the past, and is similar, if not 100% equal, to "It can't have been Peter".

The references below may also be of help to you:
http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/will_1 (definition #5)
http://library.bcu.ac.uk/learner/Grammar Guides/3.07 Modals.htm ("Talking about the past with certainty")

Not a teacher.

 

[PooMer]

"won't have been" = "will not have been".

Why do you always think it's the contraction?
https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/...t-will-have-not-been-quot?p=401078#post401078

 

[PooMer]

As fas as I know, this is about making deductions about the past, and is similar, if not 100% equal, to "It can't have been Peter".

The references below may also be of help to you:
http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/will_1 (definition #5)
http://library.bcu.ac.uk/learner/Grammar Guides/3.07 Modals.htm ("Talking about the past with certainty")

Not a teacher.

Thanks for your reply

In the link, there was this example:
I'm sure you will have noticed that attendance has fallen sharply.

But what's the difference with:
I'm sure you [STRIKE]will[/STRIKE] have noticed that attendance has fallen sharply.