class C { x: number; get X(): number { return 1; } foo(): number { return 1; } static y: number; static get Y(): number { return 1; } static bar(): number { return 1; } } class D extends C { x: any; get X(): any { return null; } foo(): any { return 1; } static y: any; static get Y(): any { return null; } static bar(): any { return null; } } // if D is a valid class definition than E is now not safe tranisitively through C class E extends D { x: string; get X(): string{ return ''; } foo(): string { return ''; } static y: string; static get Y(): string { return ''; } static bar(): string { return ''; } } var c: C; var d: D; var e: E; c = d; c = e; var r = c.foo(); // e.foo would return string