“If + would” conditional in present perfect tense
Is it allowed to use the "if + would" conditional when speculating about a polite request that could have taken place in past? I know that the would structure can be used to make a polite request, but can it be used for making one in the past as well?
Example: If he would have told me what he wanted for lunch, I would have cooked it for him.
Also, may I use this construction in the past perfect tense?
Example: If he "would had told" me what he wanted for lunch, I would have cooked it for him.
grammar sequence-of-tenses
asked 5 hours ago
RareRare
826
add a comment |
Is it allowed to use the "if + would" conditional when speculating about a polite request that could have taken place in past? I know that the would structure can be used to make a polite request, but can it be used for making one in the past as well?
Example: If he would have told me what he wanted for lunch, I would have cooked it for him.
Also, may I use this construction in the past perfect tense?
Example: If he "would had told" me what he wanted for lunch, I would have cooked it for him.
grammar sequence-of-tenses
asked 5 hours ago
RareRare
826
add a comment |
Is it allowed to use the "if + would" conditional when speculating about a polite request that could have taken place in past? I know that the would structure can be used to make a polite request, but can it be used for making one in the past as well?
Example: If he would have told me what he wanted for lunch, I would have cooked it for him.
Also, may I use this construction in the past perfect tense?
Example: If he "would had told" me what he wanted for lunch, I would have cooked it for him.
grammar sequence-of-tenses
asked 5 hours ago
RareRare
826
Is it allowed to use the "if + would" conditional when speculating about a polite request that could have taken place in past? I know that the would structure can be used to make a polite request, but can it be used for making one in the past as well?
Example: If he would have told me what he wanted for lunch, I would have cooked it for him.
Also, may I use this construction in the past perfect tense?
Example: If he "would had told" me what he wanted for lunch, I would have cooked it for him.
grammar sequence-of-tenses
grammar sequence-of-tenses
asked 5 hours ago
RareRare
826
asked 5 hours ago
RareRare
826
asked 5 hours ago
RareRare
826
asked 5 hours ago
RareRare
826
asked 5 hours ago
RareRare
826
826
add a comment |
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
There is nothing wrong with this:
✔ If he would have told me what he wanted for lunch, I would have cooked it for him.
However, it's a bit more common for it to be phrased this way:
✔ If he had told me what he wanted for lunch, I would have cooked it for him.
On the other hand, the combination of both would and had does not work:
✘ If he would had told me what he wanted for lunch, I would have cooked it for him.
answered 4 hours ago
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
15.9k22237
But what about the construction: "If Robert wasn't so lazy he could have been promoted." And also: "If Robert wasn't so lazy he will be promoted." Are the tenses in the second clause interchangeable? Is it allowed to use them in this form?
– Rare
4 hours ago
1
Idiomatically, your first sentence is fine. Technically speaking (according to traditional grammar) it should be If Robert weren't so lazy he could have been promoted. Your second sentence should be rephrased: Robert would be promoted if he weren't so lazy.
– Jason Bassford
4 hours ago
In Australian grammar, we never say "If he were", always "If he was" for the subjunctive. See: en.wiktionary.org/wiki/be#Conjugation Unfortunately, that implies that Australian English is "non-standard". Note that some other English variants use "were" for the indicative singular.
– CJ Dennis
1 hour ago
@Rare "will" is incorrect in your second sentence. "Will" is used for something we are sure about. It doesn't make sense to combine it with a conditional or hypothetical construction. It could be: "If Robert wasn't so lazy he would be promoted." (Australian grammar, acceptable in many other variants). Use "If Robert weren't ..." for "Standard" grammar.
– CJ Dennis
1 hour ago
add a comment |
If he would had told me is considered grammatically incorrect. The first example you showed is right.
answered 4 hours ago
JeefJeef
578
New contributor
Jeef is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
First example:
✔ Correct
Second example:
✖ Incorrect
Either having had without would, or having have with would are both correct,
Can't mix those to up!
answered 4 hours ago
U9-ForwardU9-Forward
2006
add a comment |
"will" and "would" can be used in conditional clauses when a polite request is implied (the examples are taken from here):
If you 'll just fill in this form before you go, you can hand it in to reception.
If you would take a seat, the doctor will see you in five minutes.
However, strictly speaking, this cannot be the case with a counterfactual conditional sentence in which both the condition and the result are set in the past.
In the Cambridge Dictionary, we find this reference:
We use would have + -ed in the main clause, not in the conditional clause:
If he had stayed in the same room as Dave, it would have been a disaster.
Not: If he would have stayed … it would have been a disaster.
People do sometimes use the form with "would have" in informal speaking, but many speakers consider it incorrect.
answered 4 hours ago
GustavsonGustavson
2,847311
add a comment |
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4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
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active
oldest
votes
There is nothing wrong with this:
✔ If he would have told me what he wanted for lunch, I would have cooked it for him.
However, it's a bit more common for it to be phrased this way:
✔ If he had told me what he wanted for lunch, I would have cooked it for him.
On the other hand, the combination of both would and had does not work:
✘ If he would had told me what he wanted for lunch, I would have cooked it for him.
answered 4 hours ago
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
15.9k22237
But what about the construction: "If Robert wasn't so lazy he could have been promoted." And also: "If Robert wasn't so lazy he will be promoted." Are the tenses in the second clause interchangeable? Is it allowed to use them in this form?
– Rare
4 hours ago
1
Idiomatically, your first sentence is fine. Technically speaking (according to traditional grammar) it should be If Robert weren't so lazy he could have been promoted. Your second sentence should be rephrased: Robert would be promoted if he weren't so lazy.
– Jason Bassford
4 hours ago
In Australian grammar, we never say "If he were", always "If he was" for the subjunctive. See: en.wiktionary.org/wiki/be#Conjugation Unfortunately, that implies that Australian English is "non-standard". Note that some other English variants use "were" for the indicative singular.
– CJ Dennis
1 hour ago
@Rare "will" is incorrect in your second sentence. "Will" is used for something we are sure about. It doesn't make sense to combine it with a conditional or hypothetical construction. It could be: "If Robert wasn't so lazy he would be promoted." (Australian grammar, acceptable in many other variants). Use "If Robert weren't ..." for "Standard" grammar.
– CJ Dennis
1 hour ago
add a comment |
There is nothing wrong with this:
✔ If he would have told me what he wanted for lunch, I would have cooked it for him.
However, it's a bit more common for it to be phrased this way:
✔ If he had told me what he wanted for lunch, I would have cooked it for him.
On the other hand, the combination of both would and had does not work:
✘ If he would had told me what he wanted for lunch, I would have cooked it for him.
answered 4 hours ago
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
15.9k22237
But what about the construction: "If Robert wasn't so lazy he could have been promoted." And also: "If Robert wasn't so lazy he will be promoted." Are the tenses in the second clause interchangeable? Is it allowed to use them in this form?
– Rare
4 hours ago
1
Idiomatically, your first sentence is fine. Technically speaking (according to traditional grammar) it should be If Robert weren't so lazy he could have been promoted. Your second sentence should be rephrased: Robert would be promoted if he weren't so lazy.
– Jason Bassford
4 hours ago
In Australian grammar, we never say "If he were", always "If he was" for the subjunctive. See: en.wiktionary.org/wiki/be#Conjugation Unfortunately, that implies that Australian English is "non-standard". Note that some other English variants use "were" for the indicative singular.
– CJ Dennis
1 hour ago
@Rare "will" is incorrect in your second sentence. "Will" is used for something we are sure about. It doesn't make sense to combine it with a conditional or hypothetical construction. It could be: "If Robert wasn't so lazy he would be promoted." (Australian grammar, acceptable in many other variants). Use "If Robert weren't ..." for "Standard" grammar.
– CJ Dennis
1 hour ago
add a comment |
There is nothing wrong with this:
✔ If he would have told me what he wanted for lunch, I would have cooked it for him.
However, it's a bit more common for it to be phrased this way:
✔ If he had told me what he wanted for lunch, I would have cooked it for him.
On the other hand, the combination of both would and had does not work:
✘ If he would had told me what he wanted for lunch, I would have cooked it for him.
answered 4 hours ago
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
15.9k22237
There is nothing wrong with this:
✔ If he would have told me what he wanted for lunch, I would have cooked it for him.
However, it's a bit more common for it to be phrased this way:
✔ If he had told me what he wanted for lunch, I would have cooked it for him.
On the other hand, the combination of both would and had does not work:
✘ If he would had told me what he wanted for lunch, I would have cooked it for him.
answered 4 hours ago
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
15.9k22237
answered 4 hours ago
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
15.9k22237
answered 4 hours ago
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
15.9k22237
answered 4 hours ago
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
15.9k22237
15.9k22237
But what about the construction: "If Robert wasn't so lazy he could have been promoted." And also: "If Robert wasn't so lazy he will be promoted." Are the tenses in the second clause interchangeable? Is it allowed to use them in this form?
– Rare
4 hours ago
1
Idiomatically, your first sentence is fine. Technically speaking (according to traditional grammar) it should be If Robert weren't so lazy he could have been promoted. Your second sentence should be rephrased: Robert would be promoted if he weren't so lazy.
– Jason Bassford
4 hours ago
In Australian grammar, we never say "If he were", always "If he was" for the subjunctive. See: en.wiktionary.org/wiki/be#Conjugation Unfortunately, that implies that Australian English is "non-standard". Note that some other English variants use "were" for the indicative singular.
– CJ Dennis
1 hour ago
@Rare "will" is incorrect in your second sentence. "Will" is used for something we are sure about. It doesn't make sense to combine it with a conditional or hypothetical construction. It could be: "If Robert wasn't so lazy he would be promoted." (Australian grammar, acceptable in many other variants). Use "If Robert weren't ..." for "Standard" grammar.
– CJ Dennis
1 hour ago
add a comment |
But what about the construction: "If Robert wasn't so lazy he could have been promoted." And also: "If Robert wasn't so lazy he will be promoted." Are the tenses in the second clause interchangeable? Is it allowed to use them in this form?
– Rare
4 hours ago
1
Idiomatically, your first sentence is fine. Technically speaking (according to traditional grammar) it should be If Robert weren't so lazy he could have been promoted. Your second sentence should be rephrased: Robert would be promoted if he weren't so lazy.
– Jason Bassford
4 hours ago
In Australian grammar, we never say "If he were", always "If he was" for the subjunctive. See: en.wiktionary.org/wiki/be#Conjugation Unfortunately, that implies that Australian English is "non-standard". Note that some other English variants use "were" for the indicative singular.
– CJ Dennis
1 hour ago
@Rare "will" is incorrect in your second sentence. "Will" is used for something we are sure about. It doesn't make sense to combine it with a conditional or hypothetical construction. It could be: "If Robert wasn't so lazy he would be promoted." (Australian grammar, acceptable in many other variants). Use "If Robert weren't ..." for "Standard" grammar.
– CJ Dennis
1 hour ago
But what about the construction: "If Robert wasn't so lazy he could have been promoted." And also: "If Robert wasn't so lazy he will be promoted." Are the tenses in the second clause interchangeable? Is it allowed to use them in this form?
– Rare
4 hours ago
But what about the construction: "If Robert wasn't so lazy he could have been promoted." And also: "If Robert wasn't so lazy he will be promoted." Are the tenses in the second clause interchangeable? Is it allowed to use them in this form?
– Rare
4 hours ago
1
1
Idiomatically, your first sentence is fine. Technically speaking (according to traditional grammar) it should be If Robert weren't so lazy he could have been promoted. Your second sentence should be rephrased: Robert would be promoted if he weren't so lazy.
– Jason Bassford
4 hours ago
Idiomatically, your first sentence is fine. Technically speaking (according to traditional grammar) it should be If Robert weren't so lazy he could have been promoted. Your second sentence should be rephrased: Robert would be promoted if he weren't so lazy.
– Jason Bassford
4 hours ago
In Australian grammar, we never say "If he were", always "If he was" for the subjunctive. See: en.wiktionary.org/wiki/be#Conjugation Unfortunately, that implies that Australian English is "non-standard". Note that some other English variants use "were" for the indicative singular.
– CJ Dennis
1 hour ago
In Australian grammar, we never say "If he were", always "If he was" for the subjunctive. See: en.wiktionary.org/wiki/be#Conjugation Unfortunately, that implies that Australian English is "non-standard". Note that some other English variants use "were" for the indicative singular.
– CJ Dennis
1 hour ago
@Rare "will" is incorrect in your second sentence. "Will" is used for something we are sure about. It doesn't make sense to combine it with a conditional or hypothetical construction. It could be: "If Robert wasn't so lazy he would be promoted." (Australian grammar, acceptable in many other variants). Use "If Robert weren't ..." for "Standard" grammar.
– CJ Dennis
1 hour ago
@Rare "will" is incorrect in your second sentence. "Will" is used for something we are sure about. It doesn't make sense to combine it with a conditional or hypothetical construction. It could be: "If Robert wasn't so lazy he would be promoted." (Australian grammar, acceptable in many other variants). Use "If Robert weren't ..." for "Standard" grammar.
– CJ Dennis
1 hour ago
add a comment |
If he would had told me is considered grammatically incorrect. The first example you showed is right.
answered 4 hours ago
JeefJeef
578
New contributor
Jeef is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
If he would had told me is considered grammatically incorrect. The first example you showed is right.
answered 4 hours ago
JeefJeef
578
New contributor
Jeef is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
If he would had told me is considered grammatically incorrect. The first example you showed is right.
answered 4 hours ago
JeefJeef
578
New contributor
Jeef is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
If he would had told me is considered grammatically incorrect. The first example you showed is right.
answered 4 hours ago
JeefJeef
578
New contributor
Jeef is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 4 hours ago
JeefJeef
578
New contributor
Jeef is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 4 hours ago
JeefJeef
578
answered 4 hours ago
JeefJeef
578
578
New contributor
Jeef is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Jeef is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Jeef is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
First example:
✔ Correct
Second example:
✖ Incorrect
Either having had without would, or having have with would are both correct,
Can't mix those to up!
answered 4 hours ago
U9-ForwardU9-Forward
2006
add a comment |
First example:
✔ Correct
Second example:
✖ Incorrect
Either having had without would, or having have with would are both correct,
Can't mix those to up!
answered 4 hours ago
U9-ForwardU9-Forward
2006
add a comment |
First example:
✔ Correct
Second example:
✖ Incorrect
Either having had without would, or having have with would are both correct,
Can't mix those to up!
answered 4 hours ago
U9-ForwardU9-Forward
2006
First example:
✔ Correct
Second example:
✖ Incorrect
Either having had without would, or having have with would are both correct,
Can't mix those to up!
answered 4 hours ago
U9-ForwardU9-Forward
2006
answered 4 hours ago
U9-ForwardU9-Forward
2006
answered 4 hours ago
U9-ForwardU9-Forward
2006
answered 4 hours ago
U9-ForwardU9-Forward
2006
2006
add a comment |
add a comment |
"will" and "would" can be used in conditional clauses when a polite request is implied (the examples are taken from here):
If you 'll just fill in this form before you go, you can hand it in to reception.
If you would take a seat, the doctor will see you in five minutes.
However, strictly speaking, this cannot be the case with a counterfactual conditional sentence in which both the condition and the result are set in the past.
In the Cambridge Dictionary, we find this reference:
We use would have + -ed in the main clause, not in the conditional clause:
If he had stayed in the same room as Dave, it would have been a disaster.
Not: If he would have stayed … it would have been a disaster.
People do sometimes use the form with "would have" in informal speaking, but many speakers consider it incorrect.
answered 4 hours ago
GustavsonGustavson
2,847311
add a comment |
"will" and "would" can be used in conditional clauses when a polite request is implied (the examples are taken from here):
If you 'll just fill in this form before you go, you can hand it in to reception.
If you would take a seat, the doctor will see you in five minutes.
However, strictly speaking, this cannot be the case with a counterfactual conditional sentence in which both the condition and the result are set in the past.
In the Cambridge Dictionary, we find this reference:
We use would have + -ed in the main clause, not in the conditional clause:
If he had stayed in the same room as Dave, it would have been a disaster.
Not: If he would have stayed … it would have been a disaster.
People do sometimes use the form with "would have" in informal speaking, but many speakers consider it incorrect.
answered 4 hours ago
GustavsonGustavson
2,847311
add a comment |
"will" and "would" can be used in conditional clauses when a polite request is implied (the examples are taken from here):
If you 'll just fill in this form before you go, you can hand it in to reception.
If you would take a seat, the doctor will see you in five minutes.
However, strictly speaking, this cannot be the case with a counterfactual conditional sentence in which both the condition and the result are set in the past.
In the Cambridge Dictionary, we find this reference:
We use would have + -ed in the main clause, not in the conditional clause:
If he had stayed in the same room as Dave, it would have been a disaster.
Not: If he would have stayed … it would have been a disaster.
People do sometimes use the form with "would have" in informal speaking, but many speakers consider it incorrect.
answered 4 hours ago
GustavsonGustavson
2,847311
"will" and "would" can be used in conditional clauses when a polite request is implied (the examples are taken from here):
If you 'll just fill in this form before you go, you can hand it in to reception.
If you would take a seat, the doctor will see you in five minutes.
However, strictly speaking, this cannot be the case with a counterfactual conditional sentence in which both the condition and the result are set in the past.
In the Cambridge Dictionary, we find this reference:
We use would have + -ed in the main clause, not in the conditional clause:
If he had stayed in the same room as Dave, it would have been a disaster.
Not: If he would have stayed … it would have been a disaster.
People do sometimes use the form with "would have" in informal speaking, but many speakers consider it incorrect.
answered 4 hours ago
GustavsonGustavson
2,847311
edited 4 hours ago
answered 4 hours ago
GustavsonGustavson
2,847311
answered 4 hours ago
GustavsonGustavson
2,847311
answered 4 hours ago
GustavsonGustavson
2,847311
2,847311
add a comment |
add a comment |
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