I'd like to have... vs I would have liked to... Please help me with this one

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi,

Is there a difference in meaning between the following sentences and are they grammatically correct.

  • I’d like to have thanked him (obviously this means you didn’t have the opportunity to thank him)
  • I would have liked to thank him (again, I didn’t have the opportunity to thank him)

And then there is this:

  • I would have liked to have thanked him (it sounds rather awkward to me).

Please @Anglophile, @Alan, @Arinker, @NearlyNapping, @Andrea, help me. Thanks in advance and all of you a Happy New Year.

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These three stages progress in remoteness from the present.
The first is a regret when the other person has just left the room.
The second is also a regret but the other person left some weeks ago
The third again is yet another regret but now I fear the other bloke is now dead!!!

Any good?

Happy New Year to you.
Alan

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Let me first reciprocate your greeting by wishing you a new year that does not impose too many restrictions on us!

Well, coming to your question, I’d say you have already given your own thoughts which, I think, are acceptable.

  • I’d like to have thanked him (but I missed that chance or I did not get one).
  • I would have liked to thank him (but I did not).
  • I would have liked to have thanked him (but I did not think of thanking him).

The third sentence is a bit weird in syntax.

But I wonder whether the expression I’d like is used to refer to a past occasion!

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Yes, thank you, Alan.

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Thank you, Anglophile.

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Hi,

Does my third sentence really mean the bloke is dead?
I’m creating a website on Tudor England and the more I read about the monarchs of that time, the more I realise I wouldn’t have wanted to have a been a king during that time, nor do I wish to be one now.

Thanks in advance.

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