"I doubt that he would finish his homework before sunrise."
To me the "would" gives a general and therefore less likely condition.
"Whilst all the other students are likely to get it done, I really doubt that he would [be the kind of person to] finish his homework before dawn."
It's awkward in this context but would work fine in the following "Do you think he'll retaliate?" "I doubt that he would do that."
Make any sense?
Quote:
Originally Posted by aleCcowaN
Two different sentences apply to this context depending on where's the focus on:
Dudo que haya terminado sus tareas para el amanecer.
Dudo que haya de terminar sus tareas antes del amanecer.
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My understanding was that "haber de" + inf suggests obligation in a similar (if more formal) way to "tener que". But "I doubt that he will have finished his homework..." doesn't suggest any obligation (On the other hand "I doubt that he will have to finish..." does).
"Dudo que haya terminado" is what confuses me as it seems to mean both "I doubt he has (ever) finished" (past), or "I doubt he will have finished" (future perfect). Am I right that it is ambiguous?
Quote:
Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar
Please post your own attempts first and then we will help you with corrections if needed.
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The trouble is that I have no idea about which subjunctive tenses to use! But here goes:
"I doubt that he finished his homework before sunrise."
Dudo que terminara sus deberes antes de la madrugada
"I doubt that he was finishing his homework before sunrise."
Dudo que terminara sus deberes antes de la madrugada
"I doubt the he has (ever) finished his homework before sunrise."
Dudo que haya terminado sus deberes antes de la madrugada
"I doubt that he would have finished his homework before sunrise."
Dudo que haya terminado sus deberes antes de la madrugada
"I doubt that he (ever) finishes his homework before sunrise."
Dudo que termine sus deberes antes de la madrugada
"I doubt that he would finish his homework before sunrise."
Dudo que termine sus deberes antes de la madrugada
"I doubt that he will finish his homework before sunrise."
Dudo que termine sus deberes para la madrugada.
"I doubt that he will have finished his homework before sunrise."
Dudo que haya terminado sus deberes para la madrugada.
[I realise "madrugada" is more "early hours" that "dawn/sunrise"]