“If + would” conditional in present perfect tense












3















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.










share|improve this question



























    3















    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.










    share|improve this question

























      3












      3








      3








      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.










      share|improve this question














      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






      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










      asked 1 hour ago









      RareRare

      776




      776






















          4 Answers
          4






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          1














          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.







          share|improve this answer
























          • 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
            1 hour 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
            1 hour ago





















          1














          If he would had told me is considered grammatically incorrect. The first example you showed is right.






          share|improve this answer








          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.




























            1














            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!






            share|improve this answer































              0














              "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.






              share|improve this answer

























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                4 Answers
                4






                active

                oldest

                votes








                4 Answers
                4






                active

                oldest

                votes









                active

                oldest

                votes






                active

                oldest

                votes









                1














                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.







                share|improve this answer
























                • 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
                  1 hour 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
                  1 hour ago


















                1














                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.







                share|improve this answer
























                • 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
                  1 hour 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
                  1 hour ago
















                1












                1








                1







                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.







                share|improve this answer













                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.








                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered 1 hour 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
                  1 hour 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
                  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
                  1 hour 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
                  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
                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
                1 hour 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
                1 hour 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
                1 hour ago















                1














                If he would had told me is considered grammatically incorrect. The first example you showed is right.






                share|improve this answer








                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.

























                  1














                  If he would had told me is considered grammatically incorrect. The first example you showed is right.






                  share|improve this answer








                  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.























                    1












                    1








                    1







                    If he would had told me is considered grammatically incorrect. The first example you showed is right.






                    share|improve this answer








                    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.







                    share|improve this answer








                    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.









                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer






                    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 1 hour ago









                    JeefJeef

                    557




                    557




                    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.























                        1














                        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!






                        share|improve this answer




























                          1














                          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!






                          share|improve this answer


























                            1












                            1








                            1







                            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!






                            share|improve this answer













                            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!







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered 1 hour ago









                            U9-ForwardU9-Forward

                            1906




                            1906























                                0














                                "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.






                                share|improve this answer






























                                  0














                                  "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.






                                  share|improve this answer




























                                    0












                                    0








                                    0







                                    "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.






                                    share|improve this answer















                                    "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.







                                    share|improve this answer














                                    share|improve this answer



                                    share|improve this answer








                                    edited 53 mins ago

























                                    answered 1 hour ago









                                    GustavsonGustavson

                                    2,837311




                                    2,837311






























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