Pattern: If + Past Perfect ? would have + V3. We use it for unreal conditions in the past and their imagined results.
How it’s formed
- Condition (if?clause): Past Perfect — If it had rained
- Main clause (result): would have + V3 — I would have stayed at home
If it had rained, I would have stayed at home.
If it had rained, I would have stayed at home.
Clause order
You can swap the two parts. If the if?clause comes first, use a comma.
If you had studied, you would have passed.
You would have passed if you had studied.
Negation and questions
- Negation: If he hadn’t called, I wouldn’t have gone.
- Question: What would you have done if it had snowed?
Other ways we use it
- could/might/should have instead of would have: If it had been late, we might have taken a taxi.
- With unless (“if not”): We wouldn’t have gone unless it had been necessary.
- Mixed conditionals (present result): If I had slept more, I would feel better now.
Common mistakes
| ? If it would have rained, we would have canceled. | ? If it had rained, we would have canceled. |
| ? I wouldn’t have come if he wouldn’t have called. | ? I wouldn’t have come if he hadn’t called. |
| ? Past Simple in the if-clause: If he didn’t call, … | ? Use Past Perfect in the if-clause: If he hadn’t called, … |
More examples
If I had had time, I would have helped you.
If I had had time, I would have helped you.
If you had studied harder, you would have passed.
If you had studied harder, you would have passed.
If they had lived closer, we would have seen them more often.
If they had lived closer, we would have seen them more often.
If the app had been faster, I would have used it more often.
If the app had been faster, I would have used it more often.
Structure: If + Past Perfect ? would have + V3
Unreal conditions about the past
No would have in the if-clause