П-258

КТО БЫ МОГ ПОДУМАТЬ! КТО БЫ ПОДУМАЛ! both coll (sent these forms only used as Interj or indep. clause foil. by а что-clause fixed WO

it is hard to believe (that the situation has turned out this way), no one could ever have predicted (that things would turn out this way)

who would (ever) have thought?

who could have imagined? it's hard to believe! I never would have guessed! (just) imagine! (used as Interj only) what do you know! imagine that! incredible!

(Сарафанов:) Нина! У меня никакого сомнения! Он твой брат!.. Боже мой... Ну кто бы мог подумать? (Вампилов 4). (S.:) Nina! I don't have any doubts at all! He's your brother!...My God....Well, who would ever have thought? (4b).

...Кто бы мог подумать, что Варвара не одна дома? А она таки действительно была не одна - с Анисьей Лобановой (Абрамов 1). Who could have imagined that Varvara would not be alone in the house? But in fact, she was not alone, she was with Anisya Loba-nova (1a).