In the movie "A Walk to remember" Jimmie's father says the following to his son-in-law who got into medical school. Actually Jimmie is dead when he says,
We are proud of you, son. Jimmie would have been proud of you, too.
I wonder if the use of "would have been" is correct in this case. Shouldn't it simply be "would be"? I mean why past of would instead of present?
Best Answer
In this case either "would have been proud" or "would be proud" are acceptable. The meaning would be the same. The very slight difference between the two is a matter of the speaker's attitude or viewpoint toward the time frame of Jimmie's existence.
The attitude of the speaker focuses on Jimmie's existence in the past with no extension into the present.
The attitude of the speaker allows for Jimmie's existence without reference to the past time frame.