Would never have?????

Question

A hundred years ago, as Britain's dominance eroded, rivals, particularly Germany, were emboldened to take ever-greater risks. The same will happen as American power erodes in the 2010s-20s. In 1999, for instance, Russia would never have dared attack a neighbour such as Georgia but in 2009 it took just such a chance.i want to know the use of "would have" in the preceding context?is it past unreal conditional or somethingelse???moreover,if it is past unreal conditional,it means russia have dared to attack but this does not add up.please help

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,
A hundred years ago, as Britain's dominance eroded, rivals, particularly Germany, were emboldened to take ever-greater risks. The same will happen as American power erodes in the 2010s-20s. In 1999, for instance, Russia would never have dared attack a neighbour such as Georgia but in 2009 it took just such a chance.
i want to know the use of "would have" in the preceding context?is it past unreal conditional or somethingelse??? Yes, it's an unreal conditional.

moreover,if it is past unreal conditional,it means russia have dared to attack No, it doesn't. The attack never happened. but this does not add up.please help
There is an implied condition.
eg ( If the opportunity to attack . . . Georgia had arisen in 1990, ) Russia would never have dared to attack.

It may be easier to consier a simpler example.
In 2009, Tom would never have dared to rob a bank.
In 2010, he robbed a bank.
I think he became braver in the course of the last year.

Clive

Abdul quddus · Answer

thanku

Would never have?????

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